Maine Democrats are facing a time-sensitive challenge in finding a new candidate to replace Graham Platner in the upcoming Senate race. With Platner’s expected exit from the race, the party has less than three weeks to choose an alternative candidate to take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Potential Contenders Emerge

A field of prospective candidates is quickly emerging, including Nirav Shah, Troy Jackson, and Shenna Bellows. Jackson, a former state senator, and Bellows, the current Maine secretary of state, have described themselves as progressive populists, while Shah, a former high-ranking state and federal health official, is considered more moderate with possible bipartisan appeal.

Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company, is also considering a run. Kleban had initially run for the Senate primary last year but dropped out when national Democrats brought their preferred candidate, Gov. Janet Mills, into the race.

Challenges Ahead

The new candidate will face significant challenges, including a short timeline and limited financial resources. However, some contenders, like Jackson, believe it’s still possible to mount a successful campaign. “Short timeline, obviously money and all that. It’s gonna be a challenge, but I definitely think it’s doable,” Jackson said in an interview with CNN.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.