Maine state Rep. Valli Geiger, a Rockland Democrat, former nurse and former mayor, is drawing sudden nationwide consideration after saying Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner inspired her to contemplate taking his place on the poll within the Maine Senate race.
Geiger has not been named the substitute nominee, nevertheless, her identify entered the Maine Senate scramble after she informed native outlet WMTW that Platner referred to as her Monday night time, praised her as a “fighter” and requested whether or not he might put her identify ahead.
Platner introduced Wednesday night he was suspending his marketing campaign.
After Geiger stated Platner referred to as her about probably placing her identify ahead, Geiger posted Tuesday she wouldn’t “throw Graham underneath the bus,” whereas additionally saying she wouldn’t “slander or accuse” Jenny Racicot, the lady who accused Platner of rape, “of something greater than telling the reality as she skilled it.”
By Wednesday, native shops have been reporting that Geiger stated Platner had inspired her to contemplate working if he withdrew. Platner has denied the declare.
Geiger is a third-term Democratic state consultant from Rockland, in response to her legislative biography, representing a coastal Home district in Maine that features Rockland, Criehaven Township, Matinicus Isle Plantation, the Muscle Ridge Islands, North Haven and a part of Owls Head. Her biography says she serves on the Labor Committee and the Power, Utilities and Expertise Committee.
Earlier than getting into the state legislature, Geiger served six years on the Rockland Metropolis Council, together with one 12 months as mayor and 4 years on the Rockland Complete Planning Fee, three of them as chair.
Her biography says she holds a grasp’s diploma in sustainable design and constructed her personal passive-solar, net-zero-energy home. It additionally describes her as a former nurse at Pen Bay Medical Heart who later labored as a well being coverage analyst and well being administrator, together with as director of the Healthreach Hospice program and medical director for Federally Certified Well being Facilities round Maine.
Geiger’s connection to Platner predates the most recent substitute hypothesis.
Native reporting has described her as a detailed Platner supporter, and WMTW reported she beforehand stood with him and credited him with serving to safe funding for rape package monitoring in Maine.
In her Fb put up responding to Racicot’s allegation, Geiger wrote that Racicot’s story “appears credible” however added that “none of us is aware of the reality nor will we ever.”
She additionally described Platner as “a person changing into a greater man” and stated she had hoped he would lead the political motion his marketing campaign had constructed and won’t “throw Graham underneath the bus.”
Within the put up, Geiger additionally praised Platner’s “ardour for financial populism” and stated she had granted him “an unlimited quantity of grace” for his habits throughout what she described as his “darkish years” after a number of deployments.
The Maine state consultant is just not the one Democrat whose identify has surfaced as Maine Democrats put together for the chance that Platner exits the race towards Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
A number of Democrats have expressed curiosity or are contemplating bids, together with former gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah.
Beneath Maine regulation, if Platner formally withdraws because the Democratic nominee by 5 p.m. on July 13, the Maine Democratic Social gathering can substitute him on the overall election poll by choosing a brand new nominee by means of its celebration course of, with the substitute required to be chosen by July 27.
