Maine Democrats set July deadlines to replace Platner in Senate race
What's next: Candidates have until July 15 to file and July 20 to submit 500 signatures from at least eight counties.
Maine Democrats moved to replace Graham Platner in the state’s Senate race after his campaign suspension, setting a fast-track process for new candidates to qualify. The state party late Thursday required prospective contenders to file their information and a 300-word statement on how they would run a grassroots campaign. They also must collect at least 500 valid voter signatures statewide, including backing from voters in at least eight counties.
The scramble comes as Democrats try to mount a serious challenge to Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a difficult midterm map. Public health expert Nirav Shah, former state Sen. Troy Jackson and Maine Beer Company founder Dan Kleban have all stepped forward. It remained unclear whether Gov. Janet Mills would reenter the race.