Maine Democrats are moving quickly to replace Graham Platner as their U.S. Senate nominee after a sexual assault allegation led to his withdrawal. Platner, the former state House speaker, suspended his campaign on July 8, leaving the party with just over two weeks to select a replacement ahead of the November general election.

Candidates in the Running

Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State, is among the most prominent names in the mix. Bellows, 51, previously ran for governor in a tight ranked-choice primary and lost to Janet Mills. She also ran for Senate in 2014 but lost to GOP Sen. Susan Collins by nearly 37 percentage points. Bellows raised nearly $1.8 million during her gubernatorial campaign and has emphasized her focus on affordable housing and property tax reform for residents.

Other candidates include David Costello, a former government official who ran against Platner in the June 7 Senate primary and re-entered the race on July 9. Valli Geiger, a state representative and Platner ally, was reportedly recommended by him as a potential replacement. Troy Jackson, a former Senate president and labor advocate, also stepped into the race after failing to win the gubernatorial nomination.

Among the contenders are Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Co., who previously ran for Senate nomination before Mills entered the race, and Paige Loud, a social worker who ran for the 2nd Congressional District nomination. All are positioning themselves as viable alternatives to Platner ahead of the July 27 deadline.

Political Implications

The Maine Democratic Party must submit its new nominee to the state’s secretary of state by July 27 at 5 p.m. to be eligible for the general election. The party has not yet detailed how it will select the replacement, but several candidates have already signaled their interest.

Bellows has made her intentions clear via social media, stating she has “taken on tough fights for working people” and will not stop now. Her experience in state government and prior Senate bid make her a strong contender, though she must overcome the memory of her 2014 loss to Collins.

Background on the Controversy

Platner’s campaign collapsed after a woman accused him of sexual assault. He did not immediately deny the allegations but instead stepped aside, saying he did not want to “distract from the real issues facing Maine.” The accusation has sparked a scramble among Democrats to find a replacement who can hold the Senate seat against Collins in November.

While some high-profile Democrats such as Rep. Jared Golden and actor Patrick Dempsey have ruled themselves out, the field of potential replacements is growing. The race is now a high-stakes contest for the party to maintain its Senate prospects in the state.