Democrats Urge Schumer to Stay Out of Maine Replacement Fight Before July 13 Platner Deadline
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 8
Democrats Urge Schumer to Stay Out of Maine Replacement Fight Before July 13 Platner Deadline
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 8
Summary
July 13 is Graham Platner’s deadline to decide whether to quit Maine’s Senate race, and Democrats are pressing Chuck Schumer to avoid any visible role in picking a replacement.
Party officials and allied groups fear that if Schumer appears to steer the process, anti-establishment voters could stay home and internal clashes could weaken Democrats’ bid to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Chris Murphy and Progressive Change Campaign Committee leaders publicly demanded an open voter-driven process, while Schumer-aligned Senate Majority PAC said any decision should remain Maine-centric.
July 27 is the deadline for the Maine Democratic Party to name a replacement, though Platner has not withdrawn and his campaign says voters and volunteers — not the political establishment — should decide.
The standoff also underscores broader doubts about Schumer’s leadership, with one potential candidate, Nirav Shah, saying he is still evaluating both the race and whether he would back Schumer as leader.