Nirav Shah, who recently entered the race for a U.S. Senate seat in Maine following Graham Platner’s withdrawal, is facing opposition from within his own party. Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran, has publicly opposed Shah’s candidacy, citing his management of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at an Illinois veterans home in 2015 that resulted in 13 deaths.

Duckworth criticized Shah on social media, stating, "Maine deserves better than someone who put his public image before the safety of our Veterans." She added, "Too many of our heroes lost their lives under Nirav Shah’s watch as Illinois Public Health Director. I called for his resignation then, and I strongly oppose his run for Senate now."

During an interview, Shah acknowledged the tragedy of the 2015 outbreak, saying, "Well, the outbreak that she‘s referring to back in 2015 was tragic." He defended his public health leadership record, noting that following the outbreak, he was appointed to top public health positions by Maine’s Democratic governor and the Biden Administration.

Shah also highlighted his role as director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing his leadership during times of crisis. However, interviewer Keilar challenged Shah’s comparison of his response to that of a fire department, pointing out that fire departments are known for rapid crisis responses. Shah conceded that it took about three days after confirmation of multiple Legionnaires’ cases before officials visited the veterans’ home.

Shah previously finished second in Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial primary and now seeks to replace Platner in the Senate race.

Sources