Washington — Graham Platner's move to suspend his Senate campaign this week after a woman accused him of sexual assault has prompted a mad dash in Maine, as Democrats position themselves as possible replacements to take on GOP Sen. Susan Collins in November. After Platner officially files paperwork to withdraw, the Maine Democratic Party has until July 27 at 5 p.m. to select a replacement. The party announced it would hold a nominating convention to select a nominee, with details on the process forthcoming. While some have made clear they aren't interested, including Rep. Jared Golden and actor Patrick Dempsey, a growing list of Democrats are making their interest clear. Here's who's vying to replace Platner on the ballot:Shenna BellowsMaine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows jumped into the race for the Democratic Senate nomination this week. She said in a social media post she has taken on "tough fights for working people" throughout her career, and added: "I'm not stopping now."Bellows, 51, sought the governor's mansion earlier this year, but she fell short in last month's Democratic primary. The native of Hancock, Maine, previously served in the state Senate and as executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine. She is the first woman to serve as secretary of state.It's Bellows' second run for Senate. In 2014, she won the Democratic nomination to challenge Collins, but lost in the general election by almost 37 percentage points.
Here's who's vying to replace Graham Platner as Maine Democratic Senate nominee
Graham Platner's move to suspend his Senate campaign after a sexual assault allegation has prompted a mad dash in Maine, as Democrats position themselves as replacements to take on GOP Sen. Susan Collins.










