Skip to main content
4 min read
● InformationalElections / Campaigns

These Maine Democrats could run to replace Platner in Senate race

Jackson announced that he would run for the Democratic Senate nomination after Platner suspended his campaign.

These Maine Democrats could run to replace Platner in Senate race
Image · KCRA

SOURCE CHECK

TAP FOR WHY
Outlet credibilityKCRA77/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 4, 2026
KCRA
Jul 9, 2026
tl;dr

Maine Democrats are weighing candidates to replace Graham Platner after he said he was suspending his Senate campaign, with the party facing a July 27 deadline to choose an alternative to challenge Sen. Susan Collins. Troy Jackson, Nirav Shah and Dan Kleban announced Senate bids, while Shenna Bellows was among the other potential contenders.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Troy Jackson D · ME
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Jackson in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Jackson’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →

Democratic Senate candidate

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Potential Democratic Senate candidate

Bellows's version of this story ↗
Dan Kleban
D · ME

Democratic Senate candidate

Kleban's version of this story ↗
Nirav Shah
D · ME

Democratic Senate candidate

Shah's version of this story ↗
Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Republican senator and the likely Democratic nominee’s opponent

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

Former president whose administration selected Shah for a CDC post

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator who campaigned alongside Jackson

Suspended Democratic Senate campaign

Maine governor and previously preferred Democratic Senate candidate

ALSO MENTIONED  Hannah Pingree, Winner of this year’s gubernatorial election; Valli Geiger, Maine state representative and Platner supporter

Part of a bigger story

27 OUTLETS
Maine Democrats Prepare to Select Graham Platner’s Replacement

Outlets agree Graham Platner suspended his Senate campaign and Maine Democrats are considering a replacement; Troy Jackson has announced a bid for the nomination. Left-leaning outlets focus on balancing appeals to Platner’s supporters with distinctions from him. Center outlets mostly map Jackson’s bid among other contenders and the party’s nomination process. Right-leaning outlets cast the replacement effort as Democratic dysfunction and scrutinize Jackson’s credibility and political backing.

Discussion · 0

What's your take?

Loading comments…