Maine Morning Star

County-level Democrats are mobilizing to determine how to choose delegates to send to the approximately 600-person convention the Maine Democratic Party intends to hold later this month to select Graham Platner’s replacement as the party’s U.S. Senate nominee.

While the party has shared few details about that process and the convention so far, it released late Thursday its candidate qualifications, including a stipulation that candidates must submit a written statement “about the candidate’s vision of how their campaign will continue to support and build on the currently existing grassroots energy and movement in Maine ensuring that no Mainer is left behind by their next United States Senator.”

This appears to be a nod to calls from Platner’s campaign and several voters to ensure the new nominee builds off of the momentum that had been behind the progressive policies pushed by Platner — who announced he was exiting the race Wednesday night after an accusation of sexual assault but has yet to formally withdraw.

Platner’s campaign and the state party have been sparring over the process of selecting his replacement, and executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson has said Platner’s team “would have no role” in the decision.

Candidates have to submit their declaration of intent to the chair of the party no later than 5 p.m. July 15. As of Friday, at least seven candidates have announced their intentions to compete to replace Platner.

Here’s what we know about Maine Democrats’ plan to replace Graham Platner • Maine Morning Star County-level Democrats are mobilizing to choose delegates for the Maine Democratic Party convention to select Graham Platner’s replacement.

A person familiar with Graham Platner’s campaign’s internal conversations told Maine Morning Star Wednesday that his two top political strategists have been telling the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate to step down following the sexual assault accusation.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the two made a final push to Platner Tuesday night, and that the candidate has come to terms with dropping out. Platner has yet to officially do so, as of this story’s publication.

Maine Morning Star’s calls to the campaign were not returned.

Platner's top strategists urging him to drop out, source close to campaign says • Maine Morning Star A person familiar with Graham Platner’s campaign’s internal conversations told Maine Morning Star Wednesday morning that his two top political strategists have been telling the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate to step down following the sexual assault accusation.