Dan Kleban, owner of Maine Beer Company in Freeport, announced on July 8, 2026, that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine, aiming to replace candidate Graham Platner amid recent rape accusations against Platner. Kleban made his intentions known through a post on Wednesday Substack, after having suspended his own Senate campaign last October to endorse Maine Governor Janet Mills.

Mills had suspended her campaign in April due to financial constraints, leaving Platner without a primary challenger until the allegations surfaced. Following accusations from two of Platner's ex-girlfriends, more than a dozen Democratic senators and affiliated groups withdrew their endorsements of Platner.

In his announcement, Kleban criticized the current political system, stating, “We’re all sick and tired of a system that’s been rigged by corporate interests, and we’ve had enough meddling from Washington establishment insiders and New York City consultants trying to dictate who represents us.” He called for a new generation of leadership in Washington that is independent of the establishment.

Kleban previously raised $458,786 for the Democratic primary and holds policy positions similar to Platner’s agenda. Other potential candidates to replace Platner include former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director Nirav Shah, former state senator and Maine ACLU executive director Shenna Bellows, and Jordan Wood, former chief of staff to an ex-Representative.

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