Maine Democrats to Hold 25 July Convention for Senate Seat

Maine Democrats are in a rapid, two-week process to select a new U.S. Senate nominee after the withdrawal of their previous candidate, Graham Platner, who left the race following sexual assault allegations he has denied. The party will formally choose its candidate at a state convention in Bangor on July 25, with the winner advancing to face five-term Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins in a November election that could help determine control of the Senate.

Twelve candidates formally entered the race, and eight participated in the first televised debate on Thursday, July 16. The contenders include several prominent Democrats who recently lost other statewide races: former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former state public health chief Nirav Shah, and former congressional candidate Jordan Wood. The field also includes Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban and several others.

The nomination will be decided by 601 delegates, 500 of whom are being elected at county caucuses held over the weekend of July 17-18. The convention will use successive rounds of voting until one candidate secures a majority. The accelerated timeline is...