What we know — and don’t know — so far about the Maine convention to replace Graham Platner
Graham Platner speaks during the Maine Democratic Party's annual convention in Portland in May. (Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer)
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With Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner withdrawing from the race, Maine Democrats are facing the monumental task of selecting a replacement to run against Sen. Susan Collins.
The unusual process is set to unfold over the next two weeks, as Democrats face a July 27 deadline to name a new candidate and are scrambling to figure out how to do that.
Some details about the next steps have already been released. The party announced Wednesday that its state committee had voted to hold a nominating convention that will feature around 600 delegates, and on Thursday, officials released the criteria for candidates to enter the race.
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But other details are still unknown, such as exactly when and where the convention will take place and how the new candidate will be selected from among those who enter the race.
Here are a few things to know about what’s next.
What is the process for picking a new candidate?
According to state law, if a candidate nominated in a primary election — as Platner was — withdraws on or before 5 p.m. on the second Monday in July — July 13 this year — a replacement can be named. Platner officially submitted paperwork to withdraw from the race Friday.
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The law gives a deadline of the fourth Monday in July — July 27 this year — for the party to make its replacement nomination, and largely leaves the selection process up to the party.
The Democratic Party’s charter addresses the process for naming replacements, but also doesn’t go into great detail, so the party has been frantically working to develop criteria.
The charter says only that a nominating meeting should be called by a person appointed by the party chair, and that the meeting should be run in accordance with state law, the party charter and other applicable rules.
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It also says the party should coordinate with county committees and notify them of the meeting.
What do we know about meeting plans so far?
The party announced Wednesday that over 100 state committee members had voted to hold a nominating convention to select a new Senate candidate.
A person familiar with the planning who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to disclose details said the convention will feature about 600 delegates.
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The party has not officially shared information about delegates, and did not immediately respond to questions about exactly how many delegates will be part of the convention and how they will be selected.
County committees, however, have started to shed some light on that process, with many indicating they will be holding caucuses in the coming days for the purpose of selecting delegates to send to the nominating convention.
On Friday, the Cumberland County Democratic Committee posted on Facebook that it could send as many as 150 delegates to the convention.
“Those delegates would then participate in a mini-conventiony-style thing the following week to select our new Senate nominee (and of course, have the opportunity to hear from the candidates themselves),” the committee wrote. “Exactly how the delegate selection process will work is still being finalized, with much thought about ensuring the process is consistent, and democratic, across all counties.”
The Waldo County Democratic Committee said in an update to its members on Thursday that the convention is likely to be held July 25 or 26, and will probably be in Bangor. The committee indicated that the candidates would speak at the convention, after which delegates would make their choices and vote, though the party has not confirmed that process.
What is the criteria for candidates?
On Thursday, the party released criteria for candidates. They will need to submit written declarations of intent, including summaries of their visions for their campaigns, to the party by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
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In addition, candidates will need to gather at least 500, and no more than 1,000, valid signatures from voters who were registered as Democrats as of the June 9 primary. At least eight counties — half of Maine’s 16 counties — must be represented in the 500 signatures.
Signatures are due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 20.
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The party will validate the signatures and notify candidates that they have qualified for the nominating meeting.
Who are the candidates?
More than a half dozen candidates have already said they plan to run for Senate. They include three of the five candidates who competed in the Democratic primary for governor, including runner-up and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.
Two candidates who competed in the Democratic primary in Maine’s 2nd District have also gotten in the race: former congressional staffer Jordan Wood, and graduate student and social worker Paige Loud.
Other candidates include Dan Kleban, the co-founder of the Maine Beer Co. in Freeport; David Costello, a former government official in Maine and Maryland who finished a distant third in the June Senate primary; and Andrea LaFlamme, who ran a write-in campaign in the primary.
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State Rep. Valli Geiger, D-Rockland, a Platner ally, said on social media this week that she is a “possible candidate,” but has not filed federal campaign finance paperwork as the others have.
Will the public be able to hear from candidates?
It’s unclear exactly how and in what ways the average voter will be able to participate in the process, though some candidates are already working on engaging voters just as they would in a traditional primary.
On Friday, Shah called for at least two televised debates to be held. He also announced town hall meetings for this weekend in Freeport and Bangor, where his campaign said any Maine voter can attend and ask questions.
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Tagged: election 2026, Graham Platner, senate 2026
Rachel covers state government and politics for the Portland Press Herald. It’s her third beat at the paper after stints covering City Hall and education. Prior to her arrival at the Press Herald in. More by Rachel Ohm
