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.

More here

Tagged: Elections BACK TO HOMEPAGE