AI Governance
Data Centers
Drones
Climate
Privacy
2026 Maine Senate
Bob Dylan
Last Update: 09/22/2026 at 11:35 PM EST
Democrats Race to Replace Platner
Coverage from AOL, PJ Media, and others
Maine Democrats are choosing a replacement U.
S. Senate nominee after Graham Platner withdrew amid allegations he denied and related campaign controversies. Eight or nine candidates are competing through televised debates and a July 25 convention in Bangor, with the party facing a July 27 filing deadline before the general-election contest against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. The contenders largely preserve Platner’s progressive priorities while emphasizing electability, party unity, immigration enforcement, affordability, and criticism of Collins and President Donald Trump.
Looking Back
12 Day Timeline
Jul 15
Jul 17
Jul 19
Jul 21
Jul 22
Jul 24
Jul 26
History
09/08/2026
The story is largely unchanged, but current reporting introduces conflicting counts for both the candidate field and convention electorate. It also more clearly frames the contest as one of party unity and attacks on Collins and Trump rather than candidate-on-candidate conflict.
All Articles38 articles
Important
Four Democrats debated in Maine on selecting a nominee next weekend to challenge Senator Susan Collins, focusing on immigration and cost pressures.
7/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
On July 16, News Center Maine moderated the first Democratic primary debate for Maine's 2026 Senate contest, centering Shenna Bellows's criticism of Sen. Susan Collins's foreign-policy record.
7/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Four Maine Democrats debated July 17 over who should replace Graham Platner and face Senator Susan Collins, focusing on immigration enforcement, foreign policy, and affordability.
7/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democrats debated in Maine on Thursday night to replace withdrawn nominee Graham Platner, centering immigration enforcement and Medicare for All ahead of a July 25 nominating convention.
7/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
On Thursday, eight Maine Democratic Senate candidates debated ahead of a July 25 convention to choose a nominee to challenge Sen. Susan Collins.
7/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
News Center Maine will host a 7 p.m. televised U.S. Senate debate in Maine featuring eight Democrats as delegates prepare to select a replacement nominee after Graham Platner withdrew.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates debated Thursday on News Center Maine as Maine Democratic Party delegates prepare for a July 25 Bangor convention to replace Graham Platner by a July 27 deadline.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic Senate candidates in Maine will debate Thursday on News Center Maine ahead of a July 25 nominee convention after Graham Platner withdrew.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democrats debate Thursday on News Center Maine as the Maine Democratic Party prepares a July 25 Bangor convention to replace Graham Platner for the U.S. Senate contest.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democrats debate Thursday on News Center Maine to define pitches ahead of a July 25 Bangor convention replacing Graham Platner as Maine's U.S. Senate nominee.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates debate on News Center Maine Thursday as Maine Democratic Party prepares a July 25 Bangor convention after Graham Platner withdrawal.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democrats debate Thursday on News Center Maine as the Maine Democratic Party prepares a July 25 Bangor convention to replace withdrawn nominee Graham Platner.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic Senate candidates debate on News Center Maine Thursday at 7 p.m. ahead of a July 25 Bangor convention to replace withdrawn nominee Graham Platner.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates debated on News Center Maine Thursday as Maine Democrats prepare a replacement Senate nominee by July 27 after Graham Platner withdrew.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates debate on News Center Maine Thursday at 7 p.m. as Maine Democratic Party sets a July 25 Bangor convention after Graham Platner withdraws.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates debate Thursday on News Center Maine for Maine U.S. Senate nomination replacement after Graham Platner withdrew.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democrats debate Thursday night on News Center Maine as Maine Democratic Party prepares a July 25 Bangor convention and a July 27 nominee-selection deadline after Graham Platner withdraws.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates debate on News Center Maine on Thursday evening as Maine prepares for a July 25 convention and a July 27 deadline to replace Graham Platner for Susan Collins seat.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic U.S. Senate candidates in Maine will debate on News Center Maine Thursday at 7 p.m., ahead of a July 25 Bangor convention to replace withdrawn nominee Graham Platner.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democrats debate statewide Thursday at 7 p.m. on News Center Maine as Maine sets up a July 25 convention to replace Graham Platner.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democrats debate on News Center Maine on Thursday as Maine Democratic Party delegates prepare to choose a replacement U.S. Senate nominee in Bangor on July 25.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates for Maine U.S. Senate replacement nominee debated on News Center Maine ahead of a July 25 Bangor convention.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates debated Thursday at 7 p.m. on News Center Maine for the nomination replacement after Graham Platner withdrew.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates debate Thursday night on News Center Maine ahead of a July 25 Bangor convention to replace withdrawn nominee Graham Platner for Susan Collins's Senate seat.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates will debate on News Center Maine Thursday at 7 p.m. as the Maine Democratic Party prepares a July 25 Bangor convention to replace Graham Platner after his withdrawal.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Maine Democratic candidates debate Thursday as the party prepares to replace Graham Platner by a July 27 legal deadline.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates will debate on News Center Maine Thursday at 7 p.m. as the Maine Democratic Party prepares a July 25 convention to select a replacement nominee for Graham Platner.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic U.S. Senate replacement candidates debated on News Center Maine Thursday as the Maine Democratic Party plans a July 25 Bangor convention after Graham Platner withdrew.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates debate on News Center Maine Thursday to pitch for a July 25 Bangor convention nomination after Graham Platner withdraws from Maine's U.S. Senate race.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Maine Democrats debated Thursday on News Center Maine after Graham Platner withdrew, ahead of a July 25 Bangor convention to select the party Senate nominee replacement.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
News Center Maine hosted a Maine Democratic Senate debate in Bangor featuring Shenna Bellows, Nirav Shah, Troy Jackson, and Jordan Wood less than two weeks before July 27 nominee selection.
7/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
News Center Maine expanded a July 16 Democratic Senate debate in Maine to nine candidates after campaign objections, while the Maine Democratic Party prepares a July 25 Bangor nominee convention.
7/15/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
On July 13 in Biddeford, Maine, a fatal ICE shooting of Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero escalated immigration messaging as Susan Collins pursued a 2026 Senate bid.
7/26/2026 • Parties & Political Organizations • General
Ashley Webb debated Thursday night for the Maine Democratic Senate nomination replacement as the party prepares a July 25 Bangor convention.
7/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democrats debated in Maine on Thursday, with Kalshi listing Troy Jackson as the Democratic nomination frontrunner ahead of 601 delegates.
7/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Eight Democratic candidates will debate Thursday at 7 p.m. ET as Maine Democratic delegates prepare to select a July 25 nominee to challenge Sen. Susan Collins.
7/16/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Interesting
Maine Democrats held a Thursday Senate debate after Graham Platner withdrew following rape allegations, shaping nominee selection among Bellows, Jackson, Shah, and others.
7/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
John Loftus argues in a Maine Senate debate assessment that Democratic difficulty unseating Susan Collins is reinforced by low Democratic approval in RealClearPolling averages.
7/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General