While Graham Platner and his supporters have sought to influence who replaces him in Maine’s U.S. Senate race, prospective substitute candidates do not appear hungry for his endorsement.
The Post asked seven potential replacements whether they wanted Platner, a Democrat and oyster farmer who is under fire over a sexual assault allegation, to endorse them. Four — Troy Jackson, Dan Kleban, Jordan Wood and Nirav Shah — responded. They all said no.
“I am and have always been aligned with Graham on most issues, we’re both young progressive reformers, but I will not accept the endorsement of him personally,” wrote Wood, a former chief of staff to Rep. Katie Porter (D-California) who ran to represent Maine’s 2nd Congressional District this year. He added that he would “welcome the endorsement and support of many of the progressive organizations and unions that supported him.”
Jackson, a former president of the state Senate, placed third in the Democratic primary for governor, with him and Platner endorsing each other’s campaigns. He is seen as ideologically similar to Platner and a top choice of Maine progressives. His spokesperson and one for Kleban, a brewery owner, told The Post that they did not want Platner’s endorsement.
“This race should no longer be about Platner,” Shah, a former candidate for governor, said in a text message. “It should be about the people who supported him and uniting them to defeat Sen. Collins.”
Platner remains the Democratic nominee but is under significant pressure to withdraw from the race. His campaign staff was told Wednesday that he will speak at night on the future of his Senate bid, according to a Democrat close to him.
Some Platner supporters have insisted he deserves a say in choosing his successor. That has triggered blowback from other Democrats, who say his scandals — including a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol that he had covered up and sexually explicit text messages sent to other women after he married — have damaged the party’s chances of defeating longtime Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Yet Platner energized Democrats’ grassroots base in the state and received a record number of votes in his primary win, and candidates hope to channel his support.
Other Democrats who have expressed interest in the nomination — including Secretary of State Shenna Bellows — did not respond.
Gov. Janet Mills, who lost the Democratic primary to Platner but has been quiet since news of his latest scandals, also did not respond to the question.
It’s important for any replacement Democratic nominee to distinguish themselves from Platner while not discounting the issues he highlighted that made him compelling to voters, said Ian Russell, a Democratic operative who works in Maine. Democrats can emphasize the themes of Platner’s campaign, including frustration with Washington and the political establishment, he said.
“Accepting an endorsement from him would be a very dangerous thing to do in a Senate race with very little margin for error,” Russell said.
The race could be critical in determining control of the Senate after the November midterms. Republicans have a 53-47 advantage in the chamber, and Democrats are looking to Maine as one of their most promising opportunities to flip a seat.
Platner has been hemorrhaging support in recent days since Jenny Racicot, a former partner, accused him of having nonconsensual intercourse with her and another ex-girlfriend said he repeatedly removed protection without her consent while having sex. He has denied the allegations.
Key Platner supporters, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), have withdrawn their endorsements, and Senate Democrats’ campaign arm said it would spend no more money on the race if he is the nominee.
Platner has until Monday to withdraw from the race and allow another Democrat to replace him on the ballot. If he does so, the Maine Democratic Party would have two weeks to select a new nominee. The party has not said how it would do so.
Alexei Koseff contributed to this report.
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