4 Maine Democrats target Collins in first Senate nomination debate
What’s next: About 600 delegates are set to pick a replacement nominee next weekend after Graham Platner quit the race.
Four leading Democrats competing for their party’s U.S. Senate nomination in Maine largely trained their fire on Republican Sen. Susan Collins and President Donald Trump in their first debate Thursday, sidestepping direct attacks on one another. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, former Maine CDC director Nirav Shah and former congressional aide Jordan Wood argued the party should unite quickly for the November race. The contest was scrambled after Graham Platner withdrew last week following sexual assault allegations he denies. Candidates faulted Collins over immigration funding and her vote to advance a bill with nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, while also criticizing Trump’s foreign policy and immigration crackdown.