Maine Democrats running to replace Platner as Senate nominee scramble to woo his voters

Maine Democrats seeking to replace Graham Platner as the U.S. Senate nominee are racing to win over his progressive supporters while keeping attention on defeating Republican Senator Susan Collins in November. The quick timeline is driven by the state’s never-before-used process to select a replacement after Platner quit last week following rape accusations that he denies. In an initial debate Thursday, candidates were asked about Platner’s “best idea,” highlighting the challenge of moving past his campaign while still relying on his voter base. Party officials said Democrats have until July 27 to choose a new nominee, with a convention on July 25 involving 601 delegates. The candidates also must collect 500 voter signatures, while shuffling supporters and campaign operations.