Maine's Three Likely Replacements for Graham Platner by Gabrielle Gurley

[justaprogressive]

There had been an uneasy expectation in Maine political circles that something else was going to drop with Graham Platner. After this week’s rape allegation, his swift downfall is not surprising. The harbormaster of Sullivan has joined the sad and mostly male parade of American politicians who operate under the conceit that their past transgressions will never outpace them.

But eventually, on Wednesday night, Platner stepped aside. And the question now turns to who will replace him, through a statewide convention in a couple of weeks, as the Prospect has reported.

Maine is a very small state when it comes to politics: The political players all know each other well. Unless there are the darkest secrets among the major contenders, the skeletons in those closets have already smashed to the floor. The knowns are known.

The politician who can generate the same kind of excitement that the charismatic Platner did doesn’t exist in Maine. His candidacy had already fueled infighting between progressives enthused by the new entrant and allies of Gov. Janet Mills. That competition has no winner in the conventional sense and will complicate the campaign over the next few months—if not completely blow it up. Which means that the next candidate must have the skill set to squelch the Democratic civil war and wage the uphill battle of defeating Susan Collins.

https://prospect.org/2026/07/09/three-likely-replacements-for-graham-platner-maine-senate-democrats/]

[gab13by13]

1. Not from Maine

but Bellows is impressive. She certainly started from the bottom up which gives her insight into the struggles of the working class.

She seems to be a real fighter.

[GPV]

3. She's my first choice!

[Jersey Devil]

5. Problem for Bellows is that she's been tagged as a loser

She already lost to Collins in 2014 when she was crushed 68-31 by Collins. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/cameron-arcand/2026/07/09/susan-collins-already-defeated-one-her-possible-democrat-challengers-n2679154

I hope that doesn't prevent her from getting the nomination. I've had a similar experience years ago when I ran for town council and got crushed by my opponent. I ran again the very next year and won by a bigger margin than I had been beaten by the previous year. Why? The issues changed and in the 2nd election my positions on those issues resonated with voters. I did have a hard time getting that second chance because some town committee members were very hesitant to nominate someone who had previously lost so badly.

[Coldwater]

2. Susan Collin's is still vulnerable if they chose the right candidate

Susan Collins' re-election strategy collapses: Politico reports

Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins' carefully constructed re-election strategy collapsed following Democrat Graham Platner's abrupt exit from the Senate race due to multiple credible allegations of sexual misconduct and assault, according to a new report.

In its report, Politico argues Collins' campaign spent months stockpiling opposition research on Platner, betting his personal scandals would dominate coverage and allow her to reposition herself as the more trustworthy choice.


Link

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/susan-collins-re-election-strategy-collapses-politico-reports/ar-AA27BNUp?

[pinkstarburst]

4. Those seem like good prospects

Hoping Maine can get someone great just like California did in Becerra!