Nirav Shah, the former director of Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate on Thursday, July 9, joining a crowded Democratic field to replace Graham Platner after the nominee withdrew from the race following sexual assault allegations.
“Establishment politicians have failed us. Maine deserves a fighter in this seat, and I will be that fighter,” Shah said in a statement, according to the Bangor Daily News. He pledged to push for Medicare for all, to rein in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to tax billionaires and corporations, and to hold Republican President Donald Trump accountable.
Shah’s entry into the race comes days after Platner’s campaign collapsed. Platner, a Democratic nominee who won the primary in June, announced Wednesday that he was suspending his campaign following Politico’s report that a woman said he had raped her in 2021—a claim Platner denied. The woman, Jenny Racicot, told CNN that Platner showed up uninvited to her home while drunk, forced himself on her despite her objections, and did not use protection despite her refusal, according to the Bangor Daily News.
Shah, who finished second in the Democratic primary for governor earlier this year, is now one of at least seven candidates seeking to replace Platner on the ballot. The Maine Democratic Party will hold a nominating convention to select a replacement before a July 27 deadline, according to the New York Times. Other candidates include former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, Maine Beer Co. co-founder Dan Kleban, state Rep. Valli Geiger, and others.
The winner of the Democratic nominating convention will face Republican Senator Susan Collins in November. Collins is seeking her sixth term and has historically performed well in Maine elections, winning her last race in 2020 despite polls suggesting a closer race, according to the Bangor Daily News. However, her approval ratings have slipped since Trump’s first term in office.
Shah’s background in public health and his prominent role during Maine’s COVID-19 response have made him a recognizable figure in state politics. In the gubernatorial primary, he led in early rounds of ranked-choice voting before ultimately finishing second to another candidate. He has now repositioned his political ambitions toward the Senate race, where he will compete against other Democrats for the party’s nomination within the next three weeks.
Sources
- Bangor Daily News — Shah’s announcement statement, his background as Maine CDC director, his gubernatorial primary finish, details of Platner’s withdrawal and the allegations against him, and context on Susan Collins’ electoral history
- Politico — Initial reporting on Platner’s withdrawal and Shah’s entry into the race
- New York Times — Confirmation of the July 27 deadline and the Democratic nominating convention process
- CNN — Details of Racicot’s account of the alleged assault
