Eight Democratic candidates vying to become Maine's Senate nominee participated in a forum Thursday night, with several seeking to align themselves with the policy platform of Graham Platner, who was forced out as the party's nominee amid scandal. The candidates are competing ahead of a July 25 state party convention where delegates will select a replacement to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.
Thirteen Democrats filed with the Maine Democratic Party by Wednesday to appear on the ballot for the seat currently held by Collins, who is seeking her sixth term. The race is considered among roughly a dozen contests that could determine whether Republicans maintain their slim Senate majority.
What the Left Is Saying
Several candidates pointed to Platner's positions on Gaza and Israel as resonating with progressive voters. Jordan Wood, a former chief of staff to Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., said he adopted Platner's characterization of events in Gaza as genocide after initially hesitating to use the term.
"When I got into this race, I was very hesitant to use the word genocide," Wood said. "Graham got into this race, saying 'this is genocide.' And I learned that it is so important in these moments to draw those moral lines."
Troy Jackson, a former state legislator and logger who ran for governor in 2022, highlighted healthcare as Platner's strongest issue. "That's the thing that I think Graham did the best: talked about fighting against the health care industry and the prescription drug industry," Jackson said.
Nirav Shah, a professor and former gubernatorial candidate, embraced Platner's call to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "How many more people must die at the hands of Donald Trump's masked marauders before we finally agree that now is the time to abolish ICE?" Shah asked.
Shenna Bellows, Maine's current secretary of state, said Platner energized voters around long-standing progressive priorities. "It's about Medicare for all. It's about getting ice out of Maine," she said. "He energized a movement that's always been there."
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have seized on the Democratic nomination battle as evidence of party dysfunction. The Collins campaign has pointed to the chaos surrounding the Democratic nominee selection process.
Collins, who has represented Maine in the Senate since 1997, enters the general election with significant advantages including name recognition, incumbency, and a track record of winning crossover support in the purple state. National Republican groups are expected to heavily invest in protecting her seat.
GOP observers note that several Democratic candidates' embrace of positions like abolishing ICE and Medicare for all could complicate Democrats' efforts to present themselves as mainstream alternatives to Collins. The Republican National Committee has highlighted candidate comments on Israel policy, arguing these positions alienate moderate voters.
What the Numbers Show
Collins won her 2020 reelection with 51 percent of the vote against a well-funded Democratic challenger. Maine uses ranked-choice voting for federal elections, which can benefit candidates who are seen as more palatable to moderates across party lines.
The Cook Political Report rates the Maine Senate race as "Lean Republican," reflecting Collins' incumbency advantage despite the state's trending Democratic in presidential elections. Democrats have not won a Senate race in Maine since 2012 when Angus King, an independent, succeeded GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe.
The Bottom Line
Maine Democrats face pressure to unify quickly after their original nominee's exit while also choosing a candidate who can appeal to enough moderate voters to challenge Collins. The July 25 convention will narrow the field, with candidates needing majority support from delegates to secure the nomination outright; absent that, the race would proceed to a primary in August.
The outcome could affect Senate control calculations heading into November. Republicans currently hold a slim majority and are defending several seats in states won by President Trump, making Collins' seat a priority retention for the GOP.