{"id":2629782,"date":"2026-07-14T18:19:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T22:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maine-democrats-to-debate-on-thursday-what-to-know\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T18:20:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T22:20:03","slug":"maine-democrats-to-debate-on-thursday-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maine-democrats-to-debate-on-thursday-what-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Maine Democrats to debate on Thursday: What to know"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmaine-democrats-to-debate-on-thursday-what-to-know%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2629782&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>four Democratic candidates vying to replace Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner will participate in a debate on Thursday night, providing a critical opportunity for voters and delegates to compare their platforms ahead of a July 25 party convention. The candidates-Secretary of State shenna Bellows,former Senate President Troy Jackson,former Maine CDC Director Nirav shah,and former congressional aide Jordan Wood-were chosen because they each garnered at least 20% in previous primaries. Maine Beer Company founder Dan Kleban also seeks the nomination but did not participate in the primary.<\/p>\n<p>The debate comes after Platner withdrew amid sexual assault allegations, prompting the party to select a new candidate just weeks before the election. The race is also heightened by recent events,including a deadly ICE officer-involved shooting in Biddeford,which has brought immigration and law enforcement policy into focus,with some candidates calling for the abolition of ICE.<\/p>\n<p>Candidates bring diverse backgrounds-Bellows with civil liberties advocacy and statewide experience, Jackson with labor ties and progressive support, Shah with pandemic leadership and anti-establishment positioning, and Wood as a younger progressive emerging from congressional experience. The debate will explore their strategies to unite supporters, distinguish themselves from Republican Senator Susan Collins, and enhance electability in a state known for Collins\u2019 resilience. The event will be televised statewide and marks the first major contest among the democratic hopefuls ahead of the November election.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The four <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"249\">Democrats<\/a> looking to replace former Maine <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\">Senate<\/a> candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"22643\">Graham Platner<\/a> will hit the debate stage Thursday night, offering voters and party delegates their first opportunity to see much of the field together before a new challenger is picked to take on Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1302\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maine\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"193\">Maine<\/a> Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former state Senate President Troy Jackson, former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Nirav Shah, and former congressional aide Jordan Wood are scheduled to participate. The candidates were selected by News Center Maine for invitations because they each earned at least 20% of the vote in their previous primary bids. Maine Beer Company founder Dan Kleban also has his eyes set on the nomination, but did not participate in the primary.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4648442\/scott-bessent-no-chance-run-for-lindsey-graham-seat\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Scott Bessent says there is \u2018no chance\u2019 he will run for Lindsey Graham\u2019s Senate seat<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4648131\/maine-democrat-candidates-senate-debate-what-to-know\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Maine Democrats to debate on Thursday: What to Know<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4648094\/lindsey-graham-william-timmons-senate-vacancy\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Graham ally questions Republicans eyeing replacement bid: \u2018Taking ridiculous positions\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">News Center Maine will hold the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/debates\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"45\">debate<\/a> at 7 p.m. in Portland,\u00a0with a 90-minute broadcast televised statewide on WCSH 6 and WLBZ 2.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The debate will give the four candidates an opportunity to make their case before Maine Democratic delegates choose a nominee at a July 25 convention. The party faces a July 27 deadline to place a replacement candidate on the ballot after Platner <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4644658\/graham-platner-withdraws-maine-senate-sexual-assault-allegations\/\">withdrew from the race<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner, a Marine veteran and oyster farmer who won the primary after Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) suspended her campaign, ended his bid following a sexual assault allegation that he has denied. His departure reopened a contest that Democrats thought had been settled, leaving the party with only weeks to select and rally around a new nominee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Senate hopefuls will take the debate stage just days after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4645721\/person-killed-ice-involved-shooting-maine\/\">fatally shot a man<\/a> during an operation in Biddeford, thrusting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/immigration\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/immigration\/\">immigration<\/a> policy and federal law enforcement into the center of the race.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shooting prompted demonstrations <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4646518\/susan-collins-office-stormed-ice-shooting-maine\/\">outside Collins\u2019s Biddeford office<\/a> and calls for an independent investigation. Jackson joined the protests outside Collins\u2019s office, and he and Shah openly called for the abolishment of ICE. Bellows also participated in demonstrations and called for ICE to cease operations in Maine. Kleban, who has taken a centrist stance in the matter, attended a vigil in honor of the deceased Colombian immigrant Monday night, where Wood was also in attendance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The four candidates, who each confirmed they would attend the debate to <em>Politico<\/em>, head to the stage with different political backgrounds and potential bases of support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bellows has served as secretary of state since 2021 and previously led the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/aclu\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"913\">American Civil Liberties Union<\/a> of Maine. She challenged Collins in 2014 but lost by a wide margin. She also did a stint in the state Senate after winning a district that favored President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>. Bellows most recently ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and has emphasized her statewide experience and work on voting rights.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jackson, a logger from northern Maine, previously served as president of the state Senate. He has long-standing ties to organized labor and the progressive wing of the party and received backing from Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"41\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT) during his gubernatorial campaign. He has also garnered support from Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ro-khanna\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5039\">Ro Khanna<\/a> (D-CA), who previously backed Platner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shah became one of Maine\u2019s most recognizable public officials while leading the state\u2019s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He later served as a senior official at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before returning to Maine and running for governor. Shah, like Jackson, has positioned himself in alignment with the party\u2019s progressive wing and framed his campaign platform as anti-establishment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wood is a former congressional aide who previously worked for Democratic Rep. Katie Porter of California. He most recently finished third in the Democratic primary for Maine\u2019s 2nd Congressional District and has presented himself as a younger progressive who can continue the populist movement Platner built.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The candidates are likely to face questions about how they would unite Platner\u2019s supporters with the party\u2019s more moderate voters, distinguish themselves from Collins, and build a statewide campaign with less than four months remaining before Election Day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4647315\/maine-democrats-replace-platner-ice-shooting\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4647315\/maine-democrats-replace-platner-ice-shooting\/\">MAINE DEMOCRATS VYING TO REPLACE GRAHAM PLATNER LASH OUT AFTER FATAL ICE SHOOTING <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The debate will also offer the first clear look at whether Democrats want a nominee who maintains Platner\u2019s progressive approach or one who can make a broader electability argument in a state where Collins has repeatedly survived well-funded Democratic challenges.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to the four candidates for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats debate to replace Maine&#8217;s Platner before Collins race<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2629783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Collins-Platner-replacement-polling-graphics.png?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3896,3685,9148,5894],"class_list":["post-2629782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-debate","tag-democrats","tag-maine","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Collins-Platner-replacement-polling-graphics.png?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2629782"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2629785,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629782\/revisions\/2629785"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2629783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2629782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2629782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2629782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}