Maine Dems scramble to nominate Platner replacement for pivotal Senate race

With Graham Platner out amid rape allegations, Maine Democrats must quickly nominate a replacement for the U.S. Senate race against Susan Collins via an unprecedented, small-electorate convention in Bangor on July 25. About 601 delegates will vote (500 from counties, 101 from the state committee); candidates must collect 500 signatures (including 50 from eight counties) to qualify, as Nirav Shah, Shenna Bellows, Troy Jackson, Jordan Wood and others mobilize volunteers to lock in delegate support before the July 27 ballot-name deadline. The goal is a Platner-inspired progressive nominee, though delegate loyalties can still shift. Correction: Bangor is not the state capital.