(The Center Square) — Top Maine Democrats are being groomed as replacements for disgraced U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, who has yet to abandon his floundering candidacy amid damaging sexual assault claims.
Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, who placed fifth in the recent Democratic gubernatorial race, filed paperwork late Tuesday with the Secretary of State's elections office to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins for the Senate seat, if Platner drops out of the race.
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, another candidate for governor who placed fourth in the Democratic primary, has also expressed interest in being on the ballot. Former Maine Center for Disease Control director Nirav Shah, a physician, is also among the potential replacements being considered by party officials.
Meanwhile, David Costello, who placed third in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary with 8% of the vote, posted on social media that he is back in the race if Platner withdraws.
The wild card remains whether Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who dropped out of the Senate race ahead of the primary amid lackluster support, will seek to replace Platner on the ballot. Mills, who is termed out from running for reelection as governor, placed second in the Democratic Senate primary with about 19% of the vote, according to the state's official tally.
On Monday, Platner said his campaign was “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.” His remarks came after Politico published a story in which a woman who previously dated him alleged Platner had forced her to have sex with him while he was intoxicated five years ago.
Platner has vehemently denied the accusations, but so far has refused to bow out of the Senate race, despite a growing chorus of national and state Democrats calling for him to drop out.
That includes progressive icon Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who previously backed Platner's campaign and campaign with the first-time candidate, but said Tuesday he recommended that Platner step aside "in light of these very serious allegations."
The Maine Senate race is considered a key plank of Democrats' push to retake the Senate — where Republicans currently have a 53-47 majority. Recent polls showed Platner with a lead over Collins among likely voters.
Platner's campaign has also reportedly reached out to potential candidates, but the Maine Democratic Party said he will have "no role" in the process of picking another nominee for the party's ticket.
Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said Platner’s campaign has "repeatedly" reached out to the party "in an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like."
"The integrity of this process is just as important as the outcome, and we are committed to ensuring that Democrats across our state can have confidence in both,” she said in a video on social media. "We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner’s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like."
Platner's campaign denied the claims that they are trying to influence the process, saying in a statement that he was concerned about who would be selected as a replacement candidate if he drops out.
"The Platner campaign has reached out to the party to try and understand what this process would look like," the statement said. "At no point has the campaign tried to 'put its finger on the scale.'
“Over 150,000 Mainers voted for this movement, and over 15,000 Mainers volunteered their time and energy to it. While Graham wouldn't want to be a part of the process, he would want to make sure the voters and volunteers make this decision — not the political establishment," the campaign added.
Under state law, the Democratic Party can replace Platner on the ballot if he withdraws by July 13. The new candidate must be named by July 27, according to the party.
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