Indian American epidemiologist and former public health official Nirav D. Shah on Thursday joined the U.S. Senate race from Maine after Democratic nominee Graham Platner dropped out amid sexual assault allegations. Shah announced his campaign a day after Platner withdrew.
This comes just weeks after Hannah Pingree defeated Shah in Democratic primary for governor in Maine. Shah had initially emerged as the frontrunner in first-choice votes on election night. After the loss in the gubernatorial primary race, Shah’s comeback in the Senate race is significant and backed by voters.
Shah’s first event back on the campaign trail came together quickly with a group of volunteers using masking tape and markers to update signs. In a makeshift assembly line, they methodically taped over the word “governor” and wrote “Senate” in its place, according to Politico.
READ: Maine Democratic nominee suspends Senate campaign following sexual assault allegations (July 9, 2026)
Another supporter, Erin Evans used colored duct tape to mask what once was her “Graham Platner for Senate” yard sign, replacing Platner’s name with an all-caps “NIRAV.”
This follows tensions heightened due to Platner — who had energized voters to defeat GOP Sen. Susan Collins — ending his campaign after he faced accusations of sexual assault from Jenny Raccicot, his ex-girlfriend. Racicot alleged that in late 2021, an intoxicated Platner entered her home uninvited and forced her into sex. Several Democratic politicians including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, California Rep. Ro Khanna, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren had pulled their endorsements of Platner before he dropped out. Platner denied the accusation and yet, dropped out of the race.
Shah while launching his campaign took to X, writing that he would prioritize healthcare reform if elected. “As your next United States Senator, I will fight for Medicare for All because nobody in the wealthiest country on earth should go bankrupt over a medical bill,” he said.
READ: Mamdani, Ro Khanna call on Graham Platner to exit Maine Senate race after sexual assault allegations (July 7, 2026)
Shah also added that established politicians “have failed us.” “To defeat Susan Collins, we need an outsider who is not afraid to take on the broken system she has spent decades upholding,” he said. Collins has been serving as the U.S. Senator representing Maine since 1997.
Troy Jackson, who also ran for the state governor primary, was the first to announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate elections after Platner dropped out. Jordan Wood, who ran for a U.S. House seat in Maine earlier this year, has also now switched to the Senate race.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows officially launched her Senate bid on Thursday, pledging on social media to unify Democrats in Maine. Dan Kleban, founder of the Maine Beer Company who had suspended his initial Senate bid last year, announced on Wednesday that he was back in the running ahead of Platner’s announcement. Competition remains high for Shah.