Who could replace Graham Platner in Maine?

With Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner taking time to consider the "best path forward" for his campaign and the effort to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speculation has abounded as to who could take his place on the party ticket.

Platner has faced a string of scandals during his campaign, including over Reddit posts, a Totenkopf tattoo, extramarital texting, and, most recently, a sexual assault allegation. An ex-girlfriend of Platner's on Monday stated that he had raped her while intoxicated years ago. Platner denied the allegations.

But numerous Democrats have since withdrawn their endorsements of his campaign and called on him to step aside. If he does so by July 13, the state party gets to pick a replacement, without a new primary, according to Politico.

Among the prospective candidates are Platner's former primary rival and the string of Democrats who unsuccessfully sought the party's gubernatorial nomination.

Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine

Mills lost the primary to Platner, despite support from the political establishment. She suspended her campaign activities before the primary, citing a lack of campaign funds. She did, however, remain on the ballot. Mills remains the highest-ranked Democratic lawmaker in Maine.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows

Bellows unsuccessfully sought the party nomination for governor. Her primary claim to fame was her effort to remove President Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential ballot, citing his participation in Jan. 6 as a disqualification under the 14th Amendment. She and other state secretaries lost that effort at the Supreme Court.

Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson

Jackson served in the state legislature from 2002 until 2024, and served as Senate president from 2018-2024. He ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2026, but was unsuccessful. He has since stated that he believes himself to be the best candidate to replace Platner.

"This is something I never considered, but if Graham’s stepping away, I am very, very interested and think I’m the best person to replace him," he told the Bangor Daily News.

Former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah

Shah currently leads the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and has held the post since Mills appointed him in 2019. He ran for governor touting his record during the COVID-19 pandemic and embracing a progressive set of policies.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.