Published July 15, 2026
It seemed as if the Senate playing field was nearly set two weeks ago, with only Michigan’s Democratic primary left to establish the candidates for November’s major races. No more. Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner’s withdrawal in Maine and the death of South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham mean both parties must fill vacancies that could affect the battle for Senate control.
Maine Democrats have the more obviously important choice. Susan Collins is the only Republican senator to represent a state Kamala Harris won in 2024, making her the Democrats’ most favorable target. Platner’s self-immolation, however, means Team Blue has no candidate with less than four months to go until Election Day. That’s a bad place to be, especially against someone with more than $9 million in the bank and a nearly 30-year history of persuading reliably Democratic voters.
Maine’s statutory requirement that the state party select Platner’s replacement by 5 p.m. on July 27 complicates the task. All seven candidates had unsuccessfully competed in either a House, Senate or gubernatorial primary this cycle. They won’t have the time to prove sufficient fundraising prowess. Nor will they go through the vetting that an extended primary provides. They will instead compete in a two-week sprint to capture the nomination at a convention on July 25.
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Henry Olsen, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, is a globally recognized expert on American elections and policy as well as global populism.
