Just a review of what, where, and how (I can't do the why).
We have considerably more information today than we did yesterday. I apologize in advance for the multiple of links below, but the Maine Democratic Party website now released a substantial amount of guidance, and I want to make sure everyone has access to the official information rather than relying on rumors or secondhand reports. Please circulate this if you have friend and communities who are looking for information.
The MDP central information page, including the official Call to Convention, timelines, forms, and guidance documents, is available here:
https://mainedems.org/senate-
1. Cumberland County Delegate Selection Meeting
Cumberland County will hold a meeting next weekend (Saturday or Sunday still undetermined - and based on venue selection) to elect delegates to the Democratic Nominating Convention. We are still finalizing the specific date, time, and location. As soon as those details are confirmed, I will share them with everyone immediately.
Cumberland County will elect 149 delegates and 30 alternates to the convention. 
The Maine Democratic Party is asking Democrats who plan to attend the county meeting to pre-register online so counties can better prepare for attendance. While pre-registration is strongly encouraged, it is not required. If you do not pre-register, you may still register in person before the meeting begins. (I don't know if it will mean you wait in a longer line - it could!)
The deadline to pre-register for the county meeting is going to be Thursday, July 16, at 5:00 p.m.
You may pre-register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/
This is a democratic event. The primary was open to unenrolled too. But this process is going to be just democrats. I know many Mainers who are unenrolled are going to be disappointed, and even angry. Join me, please, in encouraging the unenrolled to stay involved, communicate their preferences, and trust these delegates to take into account in their decisions what the hear from friends, family, and neighbors.
2. Becoming a Delegate
If you are interested in serving as a delegate to the Democratic Nominating Convention, the most important thing to know is this:
Any registered Democrat who was enrolled in the Democratic Party as of June 9, 2026, is eligible to seek election as a delegate, provided they are registered in Cumberland County at the time of both the county meeting and the convention.
Unlike simply attending the county meeting, delegate candidates must declare their candidacy in advance. Nominations will not be accepted from the floor. (Sorry, 180 nominations yelled out to me will be unreasonable, and not a great use of time)
If you wish to run as a delegate, you must complete the online Delegate Candidate Form: (yes, fill it out again but use different options to indicate your interest in being a delegate)
https://docs.google.com/forms/
The deadline to submit your delegate candidacy is Wednesday, July 15, at 5:00 p.m. The Maine Democratic Party will verify eligibility and provide counties with the official list of qualified candidates before the county meetings.
The delegate selection process is being finalized so that as much as possible, it will be same in every county across Maine. Please continue to be patient as that wraps up hopefully today. Counties are not creating their own rules or procedures - but we are all different. The goal is to provide every Democrat with a fair, transparent, and legally sound opportunity to participate in selecting our nominee.
3. Voting for Delegates
One important question remains: exactly how voting for delegates will be conducted during the county meetings.
While the Party has now released the qualifications and procedures for becoming a delegate, additional guidance regarding the mechanics of voting is still being finalized. As soon as that becomes available, I'll share it with you. Again, there's nothing happening other than working out the realities of 16 different counties.
4. Democratic Nominating Convention
The Democratic Nominating Convention will be held on:
Saturday, July 25
Cross Insurance Center
Bangor, Maine
The convention will consist of 601 delegates from across the state, representing every county, along with Democratic State Committee members. Delegates will hear from the candidates before voting to select the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate. Following the vote, the Democratic State Committee will meet to certify the results. There will a zany amount of press and coverage and people are working out security (that I imagine is going to be expensive).
If you are elected as a delegate, please be aware that attendance is in person, (I'm sorry if you, like me, prefer zoom for all things) and delegates are responsible for their own travel and any associated expenses.
5. Candidates
As of this morning, I am not aware of any additional candidates beyond those who have already publicly expressed interest. Those candidates include:
- Shenna Bellows, David Costello, Valli Geiger, Troy Jackson, Dan Kleban, Andrea LaFlamme, Paige Loud, Nirav Shah, and Jordan Wood
Additional candidates may still enter the race before the filing deadline; they could be adding their interest as I write this.
I know this is an unusual process, and I appreciate everyone's patience as we work through it together. I also want to thank everyone who has reached out with thoughtful questions and a genuine desire to participate. This is an unprecedented moment for our Party, but it is also an opportunity for Democrats across Maine to engage in selecting our nominee and preparing for the important work ahead.
As always, I'll continue sharing information as quickly as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience, your engagement, and your commitment to electing a Democratic United States Senator this November.
And finally, before I go, I'd like to ask one small favor of everyone. There has been an incredible amount of frustration, anxiety, and negativity circulating over the past week, and while many of those emotions are completely understandable, they can also make it harder for us to listen to one another and move forward together. I especially want to thank those who have taken the time to share messages of hope, encouragement, thoughtful leadership, and a spirit of consensus. Those voices matter. They remind us that even during difficult moments, we can choose grace over anger, understanding over assumption, and unity over division. Today, I hope each of us will make a conscious effort to inject a little more positivity into the world—whether that's offering someone encouragement, giving one another the benefit of the doubt, or simply remembering that we're all working toward the same goal. A little kindness goes a long way, and our Party is strongest when we lead with both conviction and compassion. Join me in changing frustration and anger into hope.