AUGUSTA, Maine – Democratic gubernatorial front-runner Dr. Nirav Shah wasted little time Thursday morning throwing his support behind Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, issuing an endorsement just minutes after Gov. Janet Mills announced she was suspending her campaign for the U.S. Senate, citing a lack of financial resources.
Mills revealed Thursday that her Senate campaign could not continue due to funding shortfalls, saying she lacked “the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources.”
Within minutes of that announcement, Shah took to social media to publicly endorse Platner, signaling a rapid consolidation among Democrats following Mills’ exit from the race.
“I’m proud to endorse @grahamformaine for US Senate,” Shah wrote in a post Thursday morning. “Mainers deserve a strong voice in DC, and Graham will be that. Defeating Susan Collins is vital to ending the Trump/GOP grip on Washington, and Graham is the one to do it.”
The swift endorsement underscores the speed at which Democratic leaders appear to be aligning behind Platner after Mills’ withdrawal reshaped the political landscape in Maine’s high-stakes Senate race against incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.
Both Shah and Platner have been outspoken critics of President Donald Trump, frequently targeting the former president in town hall speeches and television advertising. Their messaging has focused heavily on opposition to Trump-era policies and the broader Republican agenda.
Shah’s rapid endorsement also signals his continued prominence within Democratic politics as he maintains his position as a leading figure in Maine’s gubernatorial field. Political observers note that early endorsements, especially those delivered so quickly after a major campaign shake-up, can shape momentum and signal party unity to donors and activists.
Mills’ departure from the Senate race leaves Platner in a strengthened position among Democratic candidates seeking to challenge Collins, who has long been viewed as one of the most formidable incumbents in Maine politics.
With the Democratic field now shifting following Mills’ exit, attention is likely to turn toward fundraising, endorsements, and whether additional party leaders follow Shah’s lead in consolidating support behind Platner in the days ahead.
Shah …..The Come Bottle Clown ….has NO chance of being Governor in Maine . None .
I don’t believe Mills could have won a campaign once citizens were made aware of a very serious problem with a lack of accountability across Maine’s state agencies, especially involving Maine’s children because of issues with DHHS and the Dept. of Education. As a lifelong resident of Maine, after many years of poor management by Democrats I no longer recognize my once tranquil, beautiful state where indeed common sense once ruled. We need to elect leaders who can bring back the Maine we once knew and cherished. In my opinion, anyone who at any time in his life has chosen to have a Nazi death symbol drawn on his body, close to his heart as in Platner’s case, has made a VERY strong statement about his true character. As well, he has actually made comments revealing that he admires communism and he disrespects white rural Mainers. And how many white rural people live in Maine? Every Tuesday I get a newsletter from Susan Collins that gives proof of her great respect for white rural Maine. Collins needs to stay in the Senate.