These Are the Maine Democrats Who Could Replace Graham Platner

Less than a month ago, Graham Platner appeared to be the Democrat best positioned to take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Today, the question dominating Maine politics is whether he'll remain the party's nominee at all.

A former girlfriend's allegation that Platner sexually assaulted her during a 2021 encounter has triggered a cascade of calls for him to end his campaign. The accusation, first reported by Politico, came after months of scrutiny over accusations from other former partners who accused Platner of abusive and threatening behavior. Platner has denied the sexual assault claim and said he is considering the "best path forward" for his campaign. These scandals have plunged Democrats into an unexpected debate over whether they should replace their Senate nominee before the general election.

Maine law gives Platner until 5 p.m. on July 13 to withdraw from the ballot. If he does, the Maine Democratic Party would have two weeks — until July 27 — to select a new nominee. Some potential replacements are already positioning themselves, including former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, who took an official step toward entering the race on Tuesday.

As pressure on Platner continues to mount, here's a look at who's urging him to leave the race and who Democrats could turn to if he does.

Who has called on Platner to withdraw from the Senate race?

Calls for Platner to end his Senate campaign mounted quickly after the latest sexual assault allegation.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, led the calls in a joint statement urging Platner to "immediately withdraw" from the race. Gillibrand also said the DSCC would "not financially support this campaign if he continues to be the nominee."

The calls quickly spread to some of Platner's highest-profile supporters. California Rep. Ro Khanna, who campaigned with Platner after earlier allegations surfaced, withdrew his endorsement Monday and said Platner should leave the race. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who had also backed Platner, said he spoke with Platner directly and urged him to "step aside."

The pressure also came from Platner's home state. The Maine Democratic Party called on Platner to withdraw, saying in a statement that "the allegations against Mr. Platner are serious and credible" and that he should "step aside so Democrats can put forward a candidate who can earn the trust of Maine voters."

Who could (most likely) replace Graham Platner?

If Platner withdraws, Democrats won't have much time to settle on a new nominee. Under state law, party leaders would have just two weeks to select someone capable of mounting a competitive challenge against Collins in one of the country's marquee Senate races.

That likely means the party would look to Democrats with statewide name recognition, established fundraising networks or recent campaign infrastructure already in place. Several current and former elected officials have already emerged as potential contenders. Online chatter has also centered on political outsiders such as historian Heather Cox Richardson and Maine native actor Patrick Dempsey, though neither has publicly indicated they are considering a bid.

Janet Mills

The biggest-name Democrat they could turn to is Gov. Janet Mills.

At 79, Mills is nearing the end of her second term as governor, having made history in 2018 as the first woman elected to Maine's highest office. She is set to leave office in January 2027 after reaching Maine's two-term limit. Before that, she spent decades in local politics, serving in the state Legislature and as attorney general from 2009 to 2011 and again from 2013 until her election as governor.

Mills entered the Senate race earlier this year and was initially viewed as one of the Democrats' strongest recruits to challenge Collins. But she suspended her campaign in April, saying she lacked the financial resources needed to compete, effectively clearing the way for Platner to become the party's likely nominee.

Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the University of Maine, told Katie Couric Media that Mills — along with Rep. Jared Golden — would be Democrats' strongest contenders. "I think that the Democrats' best options as a replacement candidate would be Janet Mills or Jared Golden, but I doubt that either of them would be interested," Brewer says.

Mills could face political headwinds. Throughout the Democratic primary, she generally polled worse against Collins than Platner, and her own approval ratings have been mixed. A New York Times/Portland Press Herald/Siena College poll conducted June 19-26 found that 45 percent of likely Maine voters viewed Mills favorably, while 53 percent viewed her unfavorably.

Jared Golden

If Democrats prioritize general-election electability, Rep. Jared Golden could be among their most powerful options, though there is little indication that he is interested in running.

A Marine veteran, Golden has represented Maine's 2nd Congressional District since 2019. The sprawling, largely rural district is one of the country's most competitive House seats and the more conservative of Maine's two congressional districts. It backed President Trump by roughly 9 percentage points in 2024, yet Golden still won reelection, cementing his reputation as one of the few Democrats who can consistently win in Trump-friendly territory.

That crossover appeal has long fueled speculation that Golden could someday seek statewide office. But last year, he announced he would not seek another term in the House, citing the increasingly toxic political climate.

In an op-ed published by the Bangor Daily News, Golden wrote that after more than a decade in elected office, he had "grown tired of the increasing incivility and plain nastiness that are now common from some elements of our American community."

He also said a series of politically motivated attacks — including assassination attempts against President Trump and the arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence while Shapiro and his family were inside — had influenced his decision. Golden added that he and his family had also received threats.

Troy Jackson

Jackson could appeal to the progressive base that initially rallied around Platner.

The former logger brings decades of political experience, having served in the Maine House of Representatives from 2002 to 2008 and in the Maine Senate from 2008 to 2014 and again from 2016 to 2024. He served as Senate president from 2018 to 2024.

Jackson also ran for governor this year on a platform that included reducing prescription drug costs, creating a Department of Affordable Housing and lowering property taxes.

He was backed by prominent progressives, including Bernie Sanders, as well as more than 20 labor unions. The Bangor Daily News described Jackson as Platner's "gubernatorial counterpart and prototype." He ultimately finished third in the Democratic primary, losing the nomination to Hannah Pingree.

Now, Jackson appears to be laying the groundwork for a Senate run if Platner exits the race. On Tuesday, an exploratory committee filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on his behalf, a step that could pave the way for him to enter the race if Platner withdraws. He has also secured the coveted endorsement of Our Revolution, the progressive group founded by Sanders.

Although Platner endorsed Jackson during the gubernatorial primary, Jackson has since called on him to withdraw from the Senate race. He told the Bangor Daily News that, if Platner steps aside, he believes he is the "best person" to replace him.

"This is something I never considered, but if Graham's stepping away, I am very, very interested and think I'm the best person to replace him," Jackson said.

Nirav Shah

Dr. Nirav Shah, who finished second in Maine's Democratic gubernatorial primary last month, could also emerge as a contender if Democrats ultimately decide to nominate someone new.

Widely viewed as a more moderate Democrat than Platner, Shah is perhaps best known to Mainers as the former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, where he became the public face of the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic after Mills appointed him to the role in 2019. He later served as principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before stepping down in early 2025.

A physician and attorney, Shah spent nearly a decade as a healthcare lawyer before leading the Illinois Department of Public Health. He launched a bid for governor this year on a platform centered on making Maine "stronger" and more affordable by tackling housing, healthcare and economic growth.

Although he ultimately lost the Democratic primary, Shah finished ahead of other well-known Democrats, including Jackson and Shenna Bellows, underscoring the statewide profile he built during the pandemic.

Shenna Bellows

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is another Democrat who could receive consideration.

Bellows became the first woman to serve as Maine's secretary of state after representing part of the state in the Maine Senate from 2016 to 2020.

The position thrust her into the national spotlight in 2023 after she attempted to remove President Trump from Maine's presidential ballot under the Constitution's insurrection clause. The U.S. Supreme Court later unanimously ruled that states lack the authority to disqualify federal candidates under that provision.

More recently, Bellows mounted a campaign for governor but finished fourth in last month's Democratic primary. Throughout the campaign, she positioned herself as a staunch opponent of Trump, pledging to "stand up to Trump, and make Maine the most affordable state in the country."

Like several other potential contenders, Bellows has also called on Platner to step aside. In a post on X Tuesday night, she wrote that while he had "ignited a powerful movement to challenge the status quo," the seriousness of the allegations meant "he needs to step down."

Bellows has also challenged Collins before. In 2014, she lost to the longtime Republican senator by 37 percentage points, handing Collins one of her most decisive victories even as Maine was still widely viewed as a Democratic-leaning state.

Jordan Wood

Former Rep. Katie Porter's chief of staff Jordan Wood rounds out the list of Democrats who could receive consideration if party leaders ultimately seek a replacement nominee.

Wood suspended his Senate campaign earlier this year after Mills entered the race.

According to his campaign website, Wood moved to Washington after college to pursue a career "taking on the establishment and battling corruption." He later served as vice president of End Citizens United before becoming Porter's chief of staff, where he helped her "take on powerful Wall Street banks and financial interests."

Wood's campaign centered heavily on campaign finance reform. He said his top priority in the Senate would be to enact "sweeping campaign finance reform to stamp out big money's influence."

Before launching his Senate bid, Wood also unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination in Maine's 2nd Congressional District.

For now, whether Democrats will ultimately need to make that choice remains uncertain. Platner has not said whether he plans to end his campaign despite mounting pressure from party leaders and former allies. But with the July 13 withdrawal deadline approaching, the window for Democrats to decide whether to rally behind their nominee — or quickly coalesce around someone new — is rapidly closing.