Maine State Representative Valli Geiger, D-Rockland, says Graham Platner is encouraging her to try and take his place on the ballot and run against Sen. Susan Collins in November.Maine’s Total Coverage spoke with Geiger on the phone on Wednesday afternoon, before Platner made any formal announcement, and said he called her on Monday night and said he was throwing his support behind her.Platner formally dropped out of the race just after 8 p.m. on Wednesday.”He said ‘Valli you are a fighter, you have been with this movement since the beginning’,” Geiger told Maine’s Total Coverage.She says Platner then asked if he could put her name forward and she said yes.Geiger says she is “heartbroken” by the allegations against Platner, but that he can’t run for the Senate.She told Maine’s Total Coverage that Platner was also encouraging other people to submit their names.A Platner campaign staff member told Maine’s Total Coverage on Wednesday afternoon that Platner had not yet made any decision about an endorsement, but did say Platner called Geiger and encouraged her to consider running if he stepped down.The Maine Democratic Party held an emergency meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and decided to move forward with a roughly 600-person nominating convention to choose a replacement.Geiger, a Democrat from Rockland, represents House District 42. Currently serving her third term, Geiger sits on both the Labor Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.Geiger has previously served on the Rockland City Council, serving as the mayor for one year. Before entering public office, Geiger worked at Pen Bay Medical Center as a nurse. Platner’s support for Geiger comes after she posted her reaction to his sexual assault allegation on social media. Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old from Maine, accused Platner of raping her in 2021.”I will not throw Graham under the bus, but neither will I slander or accuse Ms. Racicot of anything more than telling the truth as she experienced it. I acknowledge the pain on all sides and offer compassion on all sides,” Geiger wrote on Tuesday. “But there are no winners here, something profoundly hopeful has been lost.” Previously, Geiger stood shoulder to shoulder with Platner, crediting him for helping secure funding for rape kit tracking in Maine.Several democratic candidates who fell short in their primary runs previously expressed interest in stepping into the Senate race in the event of Platner leaving the ticket.Former Gubernatorial Candidate Troy Jackson filed federal election paperwork on Tuesday. Paige Loud, who lost her bid for Maine’s Second Congressional District, filed FEC paperwork too, sharing her statement of candidacy.Dr. Nirav Shah and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who both lost in the governor’s race, say they’re seriously considering running.

ROCKLAND, Maine —

Maine State Representative Valli Geiger, D-Rockland, says Graham Platner is encouraging her to try and take his place on the ballot and run against Sen. Susan Collins in November.

Maine’s Total Coverage spoke with Geiger on the phone on Wednesday afternoon, before Platner made any formal announcement, and said he called her on Monday night and said he was throwing his support behind her.

Platner formally dropped out of the race just after 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

“He said ‘Valli you are a fighter, you have been with this movement since the beginning’,” Geiger told Maine’s Total Coverage.

She says Platner then asked if he could put her name forward and she said yes.

Geiger says she is “heartbroken” by the allegations against Platner, but that he can’t run for the Senate.

She told Maine’s Total Coverage that Platner was also encouraging other people to submit their names.

A Platner campaign staff member told Maine’s Total Coverage on Wednesday afternoon that Platner had not yet made any decision about an endorsement, but did say Platner called Geiger and encouraged her to consider running if he stepped down.

The Maine Democratic Party held an emergency meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and decided to move forward with a roughly 600-person nominating convention to choose a replacement.

Geiger, a Democrat from Rockland, represents House District 42. Currently serving her third term, Geiger sits on both the Labor Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.

Geiger has previously served on the Rockland City Council, serving as the mayor for one year. Before entering public office, Geiger worked at Pen Bay Medical Center as a nurse.

Platner’s support for Geiger comes after she posted her reaction to his sexual assault allegation on social media. Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old from Maine, accused Platner of raping her in 2021.

“I will not throw Graham under the bus, but neither will I slander or accuse Ms. Racicot of anything more than telling the truth as she experienced it. I acknowledge the pain on all sides and offer compassion on all sides,” Geiger wrote on Tuesday. “But there are no winners here, something profoundly hopeful has been lost.”

Previously, Geiger stood shoulder to shoulder with Platner, crediting him for helping secure funding for rape kit tracking in Maine.

Several democratic candidates who fell short in their primary runs previously expressed interest in stepping into the Senate race in the event of Platner leaving the ticket.

Former Gubernatorial Candidate Troy Jackson filed federal election paperwork on Tuesday. Paige Loud, who lost her bid for Maine’s Second Congressional District, filed FEC paperwork too, sharing her statement of candidacy.

Dr. Nirav Shah and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who both lost in the governor’s race, say they’re seriously considering running.