All articles tagged with #maine politics
After Graham Platner exits, veteran Maine Democrat and Senate President Troy Jackson is emerging as the Democrats’ likely nominee for the U.S. Senate seat, backed by party support, fundraising momentum, and broad statewide backing as the 2026 race takes shape.
Progressive Troy Jackson surged to a commanding lead in Maine Democrats’ delegate-selection process to replace the scandal-plagued Graham Platner, winning a majority of delegates across eight counties with union backing and positioning himself as the front-runner to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the fall.
Amid a POLITICO report that a woman accused him of sexual assault in 2022, Platner ignored advisers’ pleas for a gracious, conciliatory farewell and released an 11‑minute, defiant video blaming the establishment and the corporate media for undermining his campaign. The move triggered a scramble within Maine Democrats over replacement plans, with a convention framework discussed and national groups redirecting resources to back a new nominee; Troy Jackson filed to run, and other potential contenders (Shenna Bellows, Nirav Shah, Dan Kleban) weighed bids as the party pivots to replace him.
Maine Democrats largely back Graham Platner after a tumultuous week marked by personal embarrassment and D.C.-driven worries, signaling unity as Platner presses forward in the 2026 Senate race with a Friday rally display of support.
Graham Platner’s top strategist Morris Katz admitted in 2019 to sending nude images of himself; he’s now accused of threatening a former aide who publicized Platner’s sexting history, a development that compounds scrutiny of Platner’s Maine Senate bid and echoes Katz’s controversial past with Katie Hill and Zohran Mamdani.
After entering the Maine U.S. Senate race, Graham Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, told a campaign aide she’d found sexually explicit texts he sent to other women during their marriage, a disclosure reported by the Wall Street Journal ahead of a Labor Day rally with Bernie Sanders; the episode could raise questions about campaign optics for Platner.
Gov. Janet Mills abruptly dropped out of the Democratic U.S. Senate primary against Susan Collins after a late entry, fundraising shortfalls and a divided caucus left her with limited momentum and resources. Political newcomer Graham Platner capitalized on Mills’ missteps, campaigned across the state, and maintained a polling lead even as Mills halted advertising. National donors and the party offered little help, while Republicans framed Platner as Collins’ stronger general-election foe. Mills’ exit signals a historic shift in Maine politics and echoes past upsets in the state.
Graham Platner's campaign finance director, Ronald Holmes, resigned citing differences in professional standards amid a series of campaign shake-ups and controversies, including resignations of other staff and past social media comments affecting his Senate bid in Maine.