Maine Democrats Are Eyeing the Nomination With Platner Out

Several Maine Democrats are already lining up to replace Senate candidate Graham Platner, who announced Wednesday he was suspending his campaign after allegations of sexual assault.

Former state Senate President Troy Jackson said Wednesday he was officially in the race, after filing paperwork a day earlier to form an exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission.

“There is a powerful movement of working class people in the state of Maine, and millions more across America who are ready to send a progressive fighter to the Senate,” Jackson said in a statement after Platner withdrew. “I’ve been fighting for that movement my whole life — and I’m sure as hell not backing down now, when this fight is needed most.”

“I’m in,” Jackson added.

Jackson — who lost his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor but earned the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) in that race — topped an internal poll conducted by Platner’s campaign on who would be best to take on Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.

Paige Loud, a social worker who was the top choice for 10% of Democratic primary voters in Maine’s ranked-choice voting system in her congressional race this year, told NOTUS she’s officially running as well.

“In six months, I went from no one knowing who I was to garnering over 10% of first place votes in one of the most highly competitive primaries east of the Mississippi,” Loud said.

Loud had worked as a policy strategist on Platner’s campaign in its early stages. Political strategists have said those kinds of ties could haunt some potential candidates.

Loud said she’s proved her progressive bona fides with her policy focus.

“It’s actually why I think I’m the most qualified out of the progressives that have launched this initiative,” she said. “I have been very vocal about the different scandals that have come out. I was the last person in the state to provide my endorsement of Graham Platner.”

Dan Kleban, who was running in the Democratic Senate primary but dropped out when Maine Gov. Janet Mills entered the race, has also said he is interested in being the nominee.

“Over the next two weeks, we need an open, transparent process to select our nominee,” Kleban posted on Substack. “I’m ready to fight for Mainers and bring a new generation of leadership to Washington. I believe I can unite our party and finally defeat Susan Collins in November.”

Jordan Wood, a former congressional aide who also ran in the Democratic primary for the 2nd District, also signaled interest.

“If there is an opening, then I want to be considered, and if asked to, then I will be humbled and happy to serve as the nominee,” Wood told NOTUS.

Wood said that unlike some of the others who have expressed interest in replacing Platner on the ballot, he has experience running for federal office and working at the Capitol. Wood also launched a run for Collins’ Senate seat, but switched over to the House race after Democratic Rep. Jared Golden said he would retire.

“I’m coming out of running for federal office and have a honed message against her [Collins]: the need for generational change and reform, and to move our state and our country in a new direction,” Wood said. “There has always been a lot of similarities for Graham and I on our platform [against] corruption, Medicare for all, ending corporate power of Congress, guaranteeing a right to unionize and organize for every citizen, guaranteeing a right to abortion, and getting rid of the filibuster to do it.”

Maine state Rep. Valli Geiger told WMTW-TV that Platner urged her to run, though the Platner campaign denied any endorsement.

“He’s not made any decision on endorsing. Graham called Valli to thank her for her support and encouraged her to consider running if he stepped down,” a Platner campaign spokesperson said.

Nirav Shah, who also ran in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, also hinted he could run.

“Anyone running for this nomination should agree to at least one televised debate and hold multiple public town halls across every corner of the state. I am committed to doing that, if I run,” Shah posted on X.

This story has been updated to reflect Graham Platner’s campaign suspension and add a statement from Troy Jackson.