Also nationally, the midterm elections look like an uphill battle for Democrats to win a majority in the upper house of Congress, where they hope to curb the power of President Donald Trump.

In addition to unseating Collins, the longest-serving Republican woman in the Senate, Democrats must keep all of their existing seats and then win three more.

Platner won over Democrats in the recent Maine primary with an outsider personality and populist views, but during his campaign he was dogged by allegations of misconduct, which he denied.

Now the candidates to replace him walk a fine line between aligning themselves with the policies he successfully implemented while demonstrating that they can take on Collins and his formidable operation.

In recent days, candidates have made their ambitions known, even before Platner announced the suspension of his campaign.

Public health expert Nirav Shah, who came in second when seeking the party’s nomination for Maine governor earlier this year, announced he would run, as did former state Sen. Troy Jackson, a former logger.

Jackson also campaigned for governor, often appearing alongside Platner at campaign events, as well as with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, one of Platner’s most vocal left-wing supporters. But Jackson came in a distant third.

In a statement posted on social media, Shah said “our number one priority must be defeating Susan Collins” and called for a “transparent and open” selection process that would include at least one televised debate and multiple town halls.