Indian-American physician Dr Nirav Shah, former director of the Maine Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), formally announced his candidacy for the US Senate on 10 July, setting up a challenge against long-serving Republican Senator Susan Collins in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races of the 2026 midterm elections. Shah, who rose to statewide prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic, enters the Democratic field days after rival candidate Graham Platner suspended his Senate campaign.

Campaign Launch and Town Hall Tour

Shah announced a statewide 'Defeat Susan Collins Town Hall Tour', pledging to travel across Maine to build grassroots support. A detailed schedule for the tour is expected to be released at a later date. In his launch statement, Shah said: 'Today I am excited to announce my candidacy for the United States Senate to defeat Susan Collins.'

He moved quickly to consolidate the Democratic base, directly addressing Platner's former supporters. 'To the movement that supported Graham Platner, my message is this: you have a place in this campaign,' Shah said, framing the race around shared Maine values and accountability for both President Donald Trump and Collins.

Policy Platform

Shah outlined a progressive agenda anchored in healthcare access, tax equity, and immigration reform. He pledged to 'fight for Medicare for All because nobody in the wealthiest country on earth should go bankrupt over a medical bill.' He also committed to making 'billionaires and the biggest corporations finally pay their fair share,' reining in ICE enforcement, and ending what he called 'Trump's reckless foreign wars.'

Positioning himself as an outsider, Shah argued that 'establishment politicians have failed us' and declared that 'Maine deserves a fighter in this seat.'

Sharp Criticism of Senator Collins

Shah levelled pointed criticism at Collins, who has served in the Senate for nearly three decades. He accused her of voting in line with Trump's agenda 95 percent of the time in the previous year, despite publicly expressing reservations. 'Mainers know the routine by heart — the furrowed brow and the feigned concern followed by a vote cast exactly the way Donald Trump needs it cast,' Shah said.

He also revisited Collins's support for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, noting that she had assured voters Kavanaugh considered Roe v. Wade settled law — a position that critics argue was subsequently undermined by the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling overturning abortion rights. 'After three decades, this state deserves a senator who fights for it rather than one who keeps finding new ways to explain why she could not,' Shah said.

Shah's Background and Political Trajectory

Shah gained national recognition as Maine's public health chief during the Covid-19 pandemic, where his regular briefings made him one of the state's most visible officials. He subsequently resigned to join the federal US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before returning to Maine and now entering electoral politics. His Indian-American identity and public health credentials are expected to be central to his campaign narrative.

With Collins widely regarded as one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents in the country, the Maine Senate race is expected to draw significant national attention and fundraising. Shah's entry reshapes the Democratic primary landscape following Platner's exit, and the contest could prove decisive in determining control of the Senate after the 2026 midterms.