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Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 194

What Just Happened?

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Trial Balloon · Ep. 194: What Just Happened?

The Chaotic Sweepstakes to Replace Graham Platner

July 10, 2026 · 5:13 am ET · Leave a Comment

“A chaotic scramble is under way for Democrats to replace Graham Platner with a new nominee in the race for U.S. Senate from Maine, already drawing in more than half dozen candidates ranging from a brewer to an epidemiologist,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Since Platner announced he would leave the race Wednesday following a sexual-assault allegation, which he denies, Maine Democrats have found themselves in uncharted territory, rushing to craft a process that voters will find palatable and anoint a candidate who can defeat Republican Sen. Susan Collins.”

PBS: Who will replace Graham Platner on the ballot? 7 Democrats to watch.

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Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

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