Meet the Democrats gunning to replace Graham Platner in a crucial Senate showdown
Platner's grassroots volunteer leaders warn the Maine Democratic Party their support hinges on progressive commitments
By Paul Steinhauser , Jessica Sonkin Fox News
Published July 14, 2026 1:56pm EDT
PORTLAND, Maine - The clock is quickly ticking in the race to replace former candidate Graham Platner as Maine's Democratic Senate nominee in the race to challenge longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Candidates gunning to win the Democratic nomination must file with the state party by Wednesday to get on the ballot. Eight Democrats have filed so far to run for the nomination, which will be determined by 601 voting delegates at a July 25 convention held by the Maine Democratic Party.
Platner, a populist Democrat who was backed last September by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, won the early June Democratic primary in a landslide. He was challenging Collins in a high-profile, combustible and expensive race which is one of a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November's midterm elections.
A combat veteran and oyster farmer whose campaign caught fire, Platner steamrolled the Democratic establishment. But even as he crushed the competition to capture the nomination, Platner had already been forced on defense in the wake of a slew of scandals.
Platner dropped out of the race last week, amid calls from top Democrats in Maine and across the country to immediately exit the race following an explosive report containing an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated.
Facing a July 27 deadline to replace Platner with a new nominee, the state Democratic Party announced that all 16 Maine counties will convene special nomination meetings this weekend where participants will vote to elect delegates.
Those delegates will meet the following Saturday, July 25, in Bangor, Maine, to vote for the party's nominee.
Ahead of the vote, a "statewide network of volunteer leaders who organized, knocked doors, hosted events, and built the loop grassroots infrastructure behind Graham Platner's campaign," in an open letter on Tuesday to the state party, made it clear that the organization they built "does not transfer automatically to whoever the Party selects."
"It will only continue to exist, and only continue to be deployed, for a nominee who publicly and explicitly adopts" a list of core progressive commitments that they listed.
The letter is a sign of the tough task ahead for whomever wins the nomination to quickly unite the different wings of the Democratic base.
more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/meet-democrats-gunning-replace-graham-platner-crucial-senate-showdown
