A week after Graham Platner dropped out of Maine's U.S. Senate race, his progressive supporters remain divided over which candidate to back.

Since Platner left the race amid allegations of sexual assault, candidates are trying to show they share his policy beliefs while attempting to distance themselves from scandals.

Our Revolution, a progressive group aligned with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has endorsed Maine Senate President Troy Jackson. Sanders previously endorsed Platner, helping fuel his rapid rise.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who also backed Platner, has endorsed Jackson as well.

Jackson had backed Platner but removed all references to him from his social media accounts after the allegations surfaced.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins is seeking reelection to a sixth term and is widely viewed as one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents in the 2026 midterm elections. She is the only Republican senator seeking reelection in a state won by Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Other progressives are backing Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who unsuccessfully challenged Collins in 2014, while Nirav Shah is running on a progressive platform and has been working to recruit Platner organizers, Politico reported.

Democrats will pick their nominee in 11 days at a convention in Bangor, Maine, with more than 600 delegates deciding.

"People who were vocal supporters of Platner's have moved to other candidates, and it doesn't look to me like they moved in a block, that everyone agrees who's the best next candidate from that movement," David Farmer, a Maine Democrat political strategist, told Politico.

Jackson has gotten the most support from unions, while many of Platner's backers in the state House are supporting Bellows, Politico reported.

Platner campaign volunteers circulated a letter asking candidates in Maine's U.S. Senate race to adopt some of his positions on healthcare and housing, according to Politico. Jackson and Bellows signed the letter.

"I know that there's real pain, anger, disappointment, and I'm not going to try and to minimize that,” Jackson said at a rally without mentioning Platner by name.

"But, look, this movement has always been bigger than one person. It's about taking on a system rigged against working people," Jackson said on a call with reporters.

A person close to Bellows told Politico candidates have "a really delicate dance to walk."

"It's not like she's trying to be Graham Platner or be someone she's not," the person said.

The person called Bellows "a great bridge" for voters disappointed by Platner's exit but still angry about Collins, the Senate majority, "and what's happening in Washington, D.C."