Maine Democrats scramble to replace Senate nominee after sexual assault allegation

When a Senate nominee's campaign collapsed under the weight of serious allegations, Maine Democrats found themselves with less than three weeks to choose a new standard-bearer against one of the Republican Party's most durable incumbents. Seven candidates — ranging from seasoned officeholders to political newcomers — have stepped forward to claim the opening, each carrying a different vision of what it means to challenge Susan Collins in November. The moment distills a recurring tension in democratic politics: the gap between the orderly processes parties design and the messy, urgent human rea