Indian American physician and former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Nirav Shah has suspended his campaign for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, endorsing former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson. This move is aimed at unifying the party ahead of its nominating convention.
Shah announced his decision Sunday, saying his campaign had always been driven by the goal of defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins and that Democrats now needed to rally behind a single candidate.
“A few weeks ago, I entered this race because I could not accept the idea of Susan Collins gliding to a sixth term at the very moment Maine families are being forced to pay the price for her votes,” Shah said in a statement.
READ: Nirav Shah says only he can unseat Susan Collins in Maine Senate race (July 17, 2026)
“Today, I am stepping aside, and I am doing it for exactly the same reason that led me to get in: we must defeat Susan Collins, and the Democratic Party must be unified to do it.”
Shah also endorsed Jackson, arguing that Democratic unity would strengthen the party’s chances in what is expected to be one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races this November. His withdrawal came just one week after the abrupt exit of Democratic nominee Graham Platner, whose campaign collapsed following allegations of sexual assault that he has denied. The Maine Democratic Party is scheduled to choose a replacement nominee at a state convention in Bangor on July 25.
Shah highlighted the momentum his short-lived campaign generated, noting that supporters collected nearly 1,000 nomination signatures within three days, made roughly 15,000 phone calls during the first week of the campaign and helped elect thousands of supportive delegates during county caucuses.
READ: Nirav Shah pitches broad appeal in Maine Senate race (July 14, 2026)
Jackson has quickly emerged as the overwhelming favorite for the nomination after county delegate meetings over the weekend. His campaign said supporters secured backing from the vast majority of delegates selected across Maine’s 16 counties, although delegates are not formally bound to vote for any particular candidate at the convention.
Shah was not alone in stepping aside. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, businessman Dan Kleban and former congressional candidate Jordan Wood also ended their campaigns as Democratic leaders sought to avoid a divisive contest before the convention. Several of them, including Shah and Wood, endorsed Jackson.
Jackson thanked his former rivals for putting party unity first and said Democrats must now focus on defeating Collins, who is seeking a sixth Senate term. Collins remains one of the Republican Party’s most prominent moderates and has consistently outperformed polling in previous statewide elections.