The Maine Democratic Senate field narrowed when Shenna Bellows and Nirav Shah dropped their bids, leaving Troy Jackson with a clear path to become the party’s replacement nominee after Graham Platner abruptly exited following a sexual assault allegation. Their withdrawals and a string of delegate wins leave Democrats scrambling to unify ahead of the state convention while Republicans see an opening to hold the seat for Senator Susan Collins.

Two candidates stepping aside this weekend changed the headline on Maine’s Senate scramble. Shenna Bellows and Nirav Shah both announced they were suspending campaigns, and their moves came as Troy Jackson amassed delegate strength across county meetings. That momentum has Jackson positioned to be selected at the party convention this week, and conservative circles are already pointing to the weak Democratic bench as a political advantage.

The chaos in the Democratic side follows the abrupt end of Graham Platner’s primary win after a sexual assault allegation surfaced and he stepped away from the race, which he denies. That exit forced a scramble to pick a replacement who can mount even a plausible challenge to an incumbent like Susan Collins. With delegates coalescing behind Jackson, the party’s internal contest is becoming less about policy and more about damage control.

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Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and physician Nirav Shah, a former top public health official in the state, both announced they would be leaving the race.

Bellows made her announcement Sunday morning, while Shah exited the race Sunday evening after Democrats across the state selected delegates to next week’s state nominating convention. Jackson quickly established a seemingly insurmountable advantage in delegates as his supporters swept counties throughout the state.

Delegates at next week’s convention will select a new nominee to take on GOP Sen. Susan Collins, after primary winner Graham Platner abruptly ended his campaign last week after a sexual assault allegation, which he denied.

In a nod to Jackson’s strong showing this weekend, Shah threw his support behind the former legislator.

“To Maine Democrats: Susan Collins will not be defeated without a united Democratic Party. And we cannot unite without treating one another with respect,” Shah said in a statement. “No matter whom you supported in this race, I urge us all to remember that in the weeks ahead.”

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Maine Beer Company founder Dan Kleban also ended his Senate bid Sunday night, saying in a statement that it has “become clear from the county nominating meetings that we lack a path forward.”

Kleban signaled support for Jackson as well, saying, “From the very beginning, my focus has been on defeating Susan Collins. I will do whatever I can between now and November to help Troy Jackson finally achieve that goal.”

Shah’s call for unity echoes across a party that now has to repair the narrative and present a candidate who isn’t linked to the fallout from Platner’s scandal. Jackson’s delegate wins were decisive in many counties, and that kind of organization matters when a convention, not a primary, will name the nominee. For Republicans, the story is simple: Democrats had to patch the field, and that scramble looks like weakness to voters who want stability in Washington.

Another debate is scheduled for July 22, a date that Democrats had better use to show cohesion and competence. The first debate among the remaining contenders was widely panned for disorganization and poor preparation. Critics on the right and independents noted how the performance read as amateurish and gave Republicans an easy line of attack in a race that should be competitive in normal political conditions.

The Platner saga adds more fuel to the fire for Republican messaging. Platner’s exit came amid a raft of troubling allegations and revelations, including a rape allegation he denied, descriptions of a Nazi tattoo, graphic social media posts, and reports of association with an app alleged to harbor inappropriate content, plus claims of domestic abuse. Those details shifted attention away from Democratic policy goals and into a damage-limitation mode that the party is still trying to contain.

With Dan Kleban also bowing out and declaring support for Jackson, the field narrowed quickly this weekend. That consolidation helps streamline the convention choice but does little to erase the headlines that dominated the last few weeks. Republican strategists argue that a rushed nominee selection and lingering scandal make it harder for Democrats to credibly attack the incumbent or reassure swing voters.

The calendar now centers on the state nominating convention, where delegates will have the formal authority to pick the replacement nominee to face Susan Collins this fall. If Jackson secures the nod, Democrats will pivot to rapid fundraising and messaging to try to close the gap. For conservatives watching the map, this sequence looks like the party circle-the-wagons moment that often signals trouble in November.

UPDATE: Congratulations, Troy Jackson.