Graham Platner has suspended his campaign and formally filed paperwork on Friday, July 10, to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for one of Maine’s U.S. Senate seats.
Even before Platner submitted that paperwork to the Maine secretary of state’s office, the Maine Democratic Party had already been developing a process to choose his replacement. And a host of new candidates have come forward to say they would like to be the next nominee, a choice that must be made by July 27. Whoever secures the nomination will go up against Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in November, a race that could determine which party has control of the Senate.
Below you’ll find a list of candidates who are in consideration — and those who have said they are not interested.
We have labeled the candidates as follows to indicate their status:
Running means they have announced that they would like to be considered to replace Platner.
Not running means they have said publicly that they are not interested in the Senate seat, or have withdrawn themselves from consideration.
Jump to: Running – Not Running
RUNNING
Shenna Bellows — Running
Maine’s current secretary of state Shenna Bellows said on Thursday, July 9, that she is entering the race to replace Platner. Before serving as Maine’s top election official, Bellows was a state lawmaker and before that the head of the ACLU of Maine. She ran against Collins for Senate in 2014, losing by 37 percentage points, and recently finished fourth in the close five-candidate primary for governor.
“I have spent my entire career taking on tough fights and doing the right thing, even when the challenge in front of me was seemingly impossible, from fighting for marriage equality at the ACLU to protecting Mainers’ voter data from Donald Trump’s Department of Justice,” Bellows said. “That’s what I’ll do again in this campaign.”
David Costello — Running
A former federal and state bureaucrat, David Costello finished third in the Democratic Senate primary behind Platner and Gov. Janet Mills, getting just over 8 percent of the vote. He said in a July 7 statement on X that he would enter the race to fill the vacancy.
“I’m back in, if Graham Platner withdraws,” Costello said.
Elizabeth Dickerson — Running
Elizabeth Dickerson, a former state legislator and Rockland city councilor, has entered the race to be the Democratic Senate nominee.
“I can imagine a Maine where we all can afford to sit down and watch the sun set. I know that working together, we can create an America that is a land of plenty and a home once again for all,” Dickerson said in a statement as part of the Maine Democratic Party’s voter guide. “We can invest once again in green infrastructure, protect our lands and water, recognize the dignity and humanity of all, and make compassion our guiding principle.”
Troy Jackson — Running
Troy Jackson, the former Maine Senate president, quickly announced his candidacy on Wednesday, July 8, after Platner suspended his campaign operations. He finished third in the primary for governor, during which he, like Platner, picked up an endorsement from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“There is a powerful movement of working class people in the state of Maine, and millions more across America who are ready to send a progressive fighter to the Senate,” Jackson said. “I’ve been fighting for that movement my whole life — and I’m sure as hell not backing down now, when this fight is needed most.”
Dan Kleban — Running
A brewery owner who has never held public office, Dan Kleban initially ran in the Senate primary before withdrawing after Gov. Janet Mills entered the race. Kleban put his hat back in the ring via a Substack post on Wednesday, July 8.
“We’re all sick and tired of a system that’s been rigged by corporate interests, and we’ve had enough meddling from Washington establishment insiders and New York City consultants trying to dictate who represents us,” Kleban said. “It’s time for a new generation of leadership in Washington, one that’s not beholden to the establishment that has failed us time and again.”
Nirav Shah — Running
Former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Nirav Shah, who finished as the runner up in the Democratic primary for governor, announced his Senate candidacy on Thursday, July 9. Shah was leading after the first round in the ranked-choice primary for governor, but he fell to eventual winner Hannah Pingree in subsequent rounds of the tabulation.
“This race is not about one person or one seat. It is about everyday Mainers,” Shah said. “I’ve shown up and fought for you before, and I am ready to do it again.”
Jordan Wood — Running
Former congressional staffer Jordan Wood was initially a candidate in the Senate primary before switching to the 2nd Congressional District race after incumbent Rep. Jared Golden announced last fall that he wouldn’t be running again. Wood finished third in the 2nd District primary with roughly 29 percent of the vote and announced the resurgence of his Senate bid on Thursday, July 9.
“I have been told that I am too progressive, that I am too young, that a gay man can’t win,” Wood said. “These cynics are wrong. They have been wrong all of our lives. They remain wrong today. I’m asking for your support to take back control of our party, and our country.”
Elizabeth Cote — Running
Elizabeth Cote is a doctor who grew up in Waterville and Bangor and currently serves as the senior vice president of Operation Smile, a philanthropic organization that helps children access surgeries to address cleft palates. She has listed affordability, health care and civility as top priorities.
“Grassroots thrive in rich soil. Our state looks green, but our communities are being drained,” she said. “Maine’s wealth is extracted from under our feet to enrich billionaires who will never know our names.”
Joseph Leveille — Running
Joseph Leveille is a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War. His policy focus is centered on affordability.
“Today’s reality is that nearly half of all Mainers cannot afford basic survival needs like housing, food, and healthcare,” Leveille said. “The people of Maine demand and deserve affordability.“
Kristina Libby — Running
The campaign website for Kristina Libby describes her as “an artist, storyteller, painter and C-Suite executive.” It also notes that she hasn’t lived in Maine for 20 years.
“Any child of Maine knows that when someone needs help and you have the tools, you stop,” Libby said in the Maine Democratic Party’s voter guide. “I have the tools for this race, and the tools for this moment in our country. I want to help. Together, we can make this work.”
Saundra Pelletier — Running
Saundra Pelletier is the chief executive officer of pharmaceutical company Evofem Biosciences, which focuses on women’s health.
“My wealth is not a credential; it is a responsibility,” she said in the state party’s guide. “It gives me the independence to reject corporate PAC money and the resources to take this campaign to every corner of Maine. I refuse to wait for Washington’s donor class to decide whether we can compete.
Ashley Webb — Running
Ashley Webb has been vocal in the Maine State House, testifying on multiple bills, and is a transgender activist. Webb’s statement on the Maine Democratic Party website states that she will serve as both candidate and treasurer of her campaign.
“As an openly trans and intersex woman, I know what it means to be told to wait, to be quieter, to let someone else speak for you,” Webb said. “I won’t do that in this campaign, and I won’t do it in the Senate. No Mainer – rural or urban, Democrat, Republican, or unenrolled – should have to fight this hard just to be heard by the people meant to represent them.”
NOT RUNNING
Jared Golden — Not running
Jared Golden, Maine’s current 2nd Congressional District representative, and his team quickly poured cold water on any notion that he might get into the race to replace Platner.
“If Congressman Golden wanted the nomination, he would have put his name forward many months ago,” said Mario Moretto, Golden’s spokesperson, on Tuesday, July 7.
Emily Cain — Not running
Emily Cain, a former state lawmaker and the former head of EMILYs List, a political action committee that supports pro-choice female candidates, said in a social media post that she is focused on electing Hannah Pingree as governor and won’t be entering the Senate race.
“I love Maine. I believe in public service. And it has been great to hear from friends and former colleagues encouraging me, but I am not running for the U.S. Senate this year,” Cain said.
Patrick Dempsey — Not running
Speculation had swirled around actor and Maine native Dempsey, but he put that to rest on Thursday, July 9, in a Portland Press Herald op-ed saying that he would not be entering the race.
“After a lot of thought, I realized the answer is no,” Dempsey said of his consideration about joining the race. “Not because public service isn’t honorable — it absolutely is. But because I believe I can contribute more effectively through the life I’ve already built.”
Heather Cox Richardson — Not running
Heather Cox Richardson, a historian and professor who lives in Maine and publishes a popular daily newsletter, made clear in a video earlier in the week that she would not be running for the Senate seat.
“That’s not an option. I am not a good candidate for the Senate race in Maine,” Richardson said. “Running for elected office is not my skill set. Or rather, running I think I could probably do, but actually doing the job is a different thing. And that’s not a skill set I have.”
Andrea LaFlamme — Not running
Andrea LaFlamme, an educator and activist, ran as a declared write-in candidate in the Senate primary and picked up less than 1 percent of the vote. She had initially announced on social media that she would continue her bid for Senate, but said on Sunday, July 12 that she is withdrawing from consideration due to concerns about the process that the Maine Democratic Party is using to select Platner’s replacement.
“Now that it’s revealed, the chosen process doesn’t feel right — inclusivity, one of the core tenants of democracy doesn’t feel fully represented to me or for Maine voters. In light of this, I’m going to respectfully withdraw my candidacy at this time,” LaFlamme said.
Valli Geiger — Not running
Valli Geiger, a state representative from Rockland, told multiple Maine media outlets that Platner had encouraged her and others to seek the nomination as his replacement on the ballot. But she said in a July 13 Facebook post that she has decided not to pursue the Senate seat.
“I believe I will better serve the movement by continuing to represent my community in the Maine Legislature and by throwing my support behind Shenna Bellows for US Senate,” Geiger said. “I believe whole heartedly that it is time to turn things over to the next generation of leaders as opportunities arise in Washington D.C.
Paige Loud — Not Running
Social worker and former 2nd Congressional District primary candidate Loud originally said on Wednesday, July 8, that she would run for the Senate nomination if a vacancy materialized. But Loud announced on Thursday, July 16, that she was withdrawing from consideration.
“Instead of speaking to communities, demonstrating a comprehensive grasp on federal policy, and earning the trust of the electorate, candidates must play a political chess match to strategically pack as many pledged supporters into a voting body of only 601,” Loud said in her withdrawal statement, noting that “is not a game I’m willing to play.”
Staff reporter Matt Junker, Fitzgerald reporting fellows Megan Blonigen and Kate Kaufman, Ida B. Wells reporting intern Abi Brissett and Scripps Howard Fund reporting fellow John Forbes contributed reporting.
