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In Graham Platner’s county, Democrats move toward a successor without letting go
The Portland Press Herald • • general
Key Points:
- Hancock County Democrats gathered at Ellsworth Middle School to elect 23 delegates for a convention to replace Graham Platner as the Democratic Senate nominee after his withdrawal amid a rape accusation he denies.
- Twenty-two delegates aligned with progressive candidate Troy Jackson, Platner’s top pick in the June gubernatorial primary, signaling early support for Jackson’s campaign against Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
- The replacement process revealed divisions and mixed emotions within the local Democratic community, with some expressing grief over Platner’s exit and others concerned about the representation of undecided voters.
- Candidates Nirav Shah, Shenna Bellows, and Jordan Wood also participated in the delegate selection, each promoting their campaigns amid a competitive and complex nominating procedure.
- The event underscored the challenges Democrats face in uniting behind a candidate capable of defeating incumbent Susan Collins in the upcoming Senate race.
