Several Maine Democrats have jumped at the opportunity to replace candidate Graham Platner, the populist Democrat who suspended his Senate campaign following sexual assault allegations and a slew of other controversies.Platner announced his campaign suspension Wednesday in an 11-minute video shared on social media in which he denied the allegations that he sexually assaulted his former partner and blamed the “political establishment” for forcing his exit from the race.Due to Platner’s exit, the Maine Democratic Party now has until 5 p.m. on July 27 to select a candidate to replace his name on the ballot in the challenge to unseat Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).
While the oyster-farmer-turned candidate has urged the state party to “open” the nominating system, the Maine Democratic Party has signaled that Platner will not have a say in his replacement.A handful of Democrats who previously ran for the seat and other offices have said they are in the race. Other names have popped up as possible replacements, but the individuals have yet to confirm they are seeking the role.Dan Kleban
Kleban, the co-founder of the Maine Beer Company who briefly ran for the Maine Senate seat last year, announced his plan to replace Platner before the former candidate even announced his exit.Dan Kleban, a co-owner of the Maine Beer Company, poses in the company’s tasting room on May 7, 2015, in Freeport, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
