The Bangor Daily News was the first to report this story. What you’re reading here would likely not be made public without the efforts of professional journalists asking questions, interviewing sources and obtaining documents.
The Maine Democratic Party is mapping out a process for replacing U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner if he drops out by a Monday deadline following a sexual assault allegation that’s led to political and financial support evaporating in less than 24 hours.
The state party committee must name a replacement to face five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins by July 27 if Platner submits a withdrawal notice by 5 p.m. on Monday. But the process as of Tuesday afternoon remains up in the air, leaving many questions hanging over one of the biggest Senate races in the country.
Party leaders have not spoken publicly since Monday but signaled intentions to state committee members in a Tuesday email exclusively obtained by the Bangor Daily News. Potential contenders are in contact with party officials and pressing for an open process amid concerns Platner and his team are pushing for certain thresholds or a specific aligned candidate.
“The eyes of the nation are on us,” Maine Democrats’ executive director Devon Murphy-Anderson said in a letter to state committee party members Tuesday. “This is an unprecedented situation. Since this story broke … party leadership has been working around the clock to evaluate the options available to us.”
Sources have said the party may try to hold a pop-up convention or nominating meeting in coordination with county Democratic leaders. Murphy-Anderson’s email said the party is consulting with its legal team and reviewing state law and the Democrats’ charter.
“Until we have a complete understanding of the full range of legally permissible options, it would be premature to share details,” she said. “To the degree we can control it, this process must be free of misunderstanding and misinformation. We understand that many of you have questions about what comes next. We ask for your patience as this work continues.”
Former public health chief and gubernatorial candidate Nirav Shah, who is interested in a Senate bid but still discussing it with his family and political team, said he’s been in close contact with party officials “navigating uncharted waters.” If Platner drops out, Shah has called for candidates to commit to public involvement in an open process, including a debate.
“We’re in a ‘ Game of Thrones’ moment, a lot of jockeying right now,” he said in an interview.
His gubernatorial primary rivals, former state Senate President Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and several others have said they’re interested in a run or have been fielding calls and messages of support. Jackson filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission Tuesday to explore a run.
The party is committed to an “open, inclusive, transparent and fair” process, Murphy-Anderson said, adding that potential updates will come later Tuesday.
“While stressful, this is also an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of our party and our commitment to conducting ourselves with integrity,” she said.
The process has been shaped so far by Platner’s reported desire to exert leverage to help pick his successor. He told staff on a Monday call that he believed he could affect the decision, The New York Times reported. Other Democratic campaigns have bristled at that idea, nodding to the fact that almost all prominent party members here have disavowed Platner.
While there’s been little specifically said about the process so far, state Rep. Laura Supica, D-Bangor, who sits as an alternate member of the state committee, said she has seen no hidden agenda from the party.
“What I’m seeing is people who volunteer their time coming together and combing over the party’s documentation to see what it says we have to do,” she said. “There is no conspiracy here.”
BDN writer Sawyer Loftus contributed to this report.