Maine Democratic leaders must pick a progressive to replace Graham Platner. Period.

Anything else will be a win for Susan Collins!

There are not many certainties in politics. But here is something that comes close. With Graham Platner out of the race, if the Maine Democratic party wants to defeat Susan Collins, they must pick a candidate to replace him who lines up with his populist economic message. Anything else will lead to defeat. Period.

Keep in mind Platner won 72% of the vote in June’s Democratic primary. If a candidate is not chosen who lines up with Platner’s policy prescriptions, the Democratic leadership would be telling 72% of the primary voters we don’t care how you voted. That is a recipe for disaster.

In fairness to the Maine Democratic party leaders---the current chair of which was a Bernie Sanders delegate in 2016 and 2020—this may not be an issue at all. But we have seen how some establishment Democrats have put up obstacles when progressive, non-traditional candidates have run for office. Even after they win Democratic nominations, this year we’ve some of the power brokers in the Democratic party slam the far more progressive winners.

So how did Platner win the primary? For starters, he was not a traditional candidate but a true outsider. He was US Marine veteran and worked as an oyster farmer. He had some local political activism which is how some people got to know him—but that is it.

The 41-year-old Platner ran laser focused on the idea, “We can build a government by working people, for working people.” His specific proposals included universal health care, taxes on the wealthy, strengthening unions and a higher federal minimum wage. At campaign events, he railed against billionaires and corporations. For example, at a recent event he stated, “There is no metric of hard work that justifies a billionaire when people in eastern Maine work three jobs just to put food on the table.”

And on the Middle East he has not been hesitant to speak the truth saying. He has boldly declared, “Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and we shouldn’t be complicit,” adding that “a government that is willing to commit genocide does not deserve U.S. tax dollars.”

All of this is why he attracted huge crowds for Maine’s political standards and inspired people—many who never were engaged in politics—to join the movement he was building since he kicked off his campaign in August 2025.

With Platner out, who will the Maine Democratic leadership pick at the expected party convention? There are many names bandied about. The one who local Democrats say matches Platner the most is Troy Jackson, 58 years old, a logger who was president of the Maine Senate from 2018 to 2024. Jackson and Platner endorsed each other this year, and Jackson’s gubernatorial run racked up support from labor leaders and Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ro Khanna.

Here is a commercial from the governor’s race this year that he lost the nomination to see Jackson in action.

Jim Melcher, a political science professor at the University of Maine at Farmington, told USA TODAY, “I think Troy Jackson would be the closest thing to Platner in terms of his populism, on being critical of corporations, emphasizing labor unions.” He added, “I would think that Platner’s base would be most happy with Jackson.”

But here is my concern about the Maine Democrats leaders. Jackson has historically not seen support from the Democratic establishment—as local Maine paper’s note. He openly sparred with Democratic Gov. Janet Mills when she vetoed several bills he sponsored throughout his years leading the Maine Senate.

For example, in 2021 Mills vetoed a Jackson championed bill that would give workers who have been victims of wage theft, harassment and other workplace violations greater legal recourse to hold their employers accountable for unlawful actions. That veto by Mills drew loud criticism from labor and workers’ rights advocates, who have argued that the legislation would help ensure whistleblowers with allegations of workplace misconduct have their day in court.

She also vetoed a bill he sponsored designed to lower prescription drug prices—which was opposed by Big Pharma. Now you get why Chuck Schumer supported her when she wanted to run for the Senate!

There are many other potential candidates being discussed as well. Maine State Representative Valli Geiger told the local media that Platner is supporting her. Before entering public office, Geiger worked as a nurse. Geiger told local news, “There were more than 150,000 people who voted for Graham because of his economic platform” and he wants to make sure that Democratic party leaders do not try to select a “centrist” who would abandon those goals such as Medicare for all.

Geiger said Platner also supports state Sen. Troy Jackson and Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. Geiger said she will gladly step back for those candidates if needed.

Shenna Bellows, who Maine’s secretary of state and also ran for governor in 2026 but was defeated in the primary. Bellows served in the Maine Senate from 2016 to 2020. She worked previously for the American Civil Liberties Union.

A more establishment friendly candidate is Dr Nirav Shah, 49, who came in second in the race for Democratic nomination for Governor this year. Shah signaled on social media July 7 he would be open to replacing Platner.

During campaign he vowed to help people in Maine with healthcare and especially housing. But in the race for Governor, Shah sided with the big landlords, saying at a landlord hosted forum, “Maine landlords have been demonized. I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you.” He strongly proclaimed his opposition to rent control and a proposed measure requiring landlords to accept tenants who have a Section 8 voucher.

There was even a chance that actor Patrick Dempsey, who played “McDreamy” Dr. Derek Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy, could be a “wild card” on the ticket according to The Maine Wire. But the key for this race his policies—not his dreaminess. (Dempsey did issue a statement later Wednesday announcing he would not be running.)

I’m not making the case for any one candidate. However, people saying progressive candidates can’t win in Maine are missing that in 2024 Kamala Harris won Maine by 7 points. Maine is not a red state. It’s light to medium blue state. Yes, they have re-elected Collins and have conservative areas, but keep in mind that the last time a Republican presidential candidate won the state was nearly 40 years ago in 1988 as the state has trended more Democratic.

If Maine’s Democratic party leaders want to win, then the choice is clear: Pick a candidate that most aligns with Platner’s economic populist message that inspired people to support him. That is why he won 72% of the vote just last month in the Democratic primary. But if they go for a status quo Democrat because that person is establishment/corporate friendly, they will have no one to blame but themselves for six more years of Susan Collins!

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