Indian American physician Dr. Nirav Shah, who gained national recognition during the Covid-19 pandemic, has announced his campaign for the United States Senate from Maine. Shah is seeking to challenge longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins in what is expected to become one of the closely watched races of the 2026 midterm elections.
Shah, the former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, launched his campaign with a statewide “Defeat Susan Collins Town Hall Tour” aimed at connecting directly with voters across Maine. He said the initiative would help him listen to residents and build support for his Senate bid, with details of the tour expected to be announced later.
In his campaign announcement, Shah appealed to supporters of former Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, whose campaign was recently suspended. He said his campaign would welcome those voters and focus on issues affecting everyday Americans, including economic opportunity, healthcare access, and accountability in government.
Shah presented a progressive policy agenda, emphasizing healthcare reform, economic fairness, immigration issues, and foreign policy. He said he would work toward expanding healthcare access, ensuring large corporations and wealthy individuals contribute fairly through taxes, protecting immigrant communities, and changing what he described as harmful government policies.
The Indian American candidate also criticized Senator Susan Collins, accusing her of supporting former President Donald Trump’s agenda and failing to adequately address challenges faced by Maine residents. Shah argued that the state needs new leadership focused on improving the lives of working families.
Shah specifically pointed to issues such as rising costs, government accountability, and political decision-making as areas where he believes change is needed. He also criticized Collins’ previous support for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, referencing the controversy surrounding abortion rights and judicial decisions.
Before entering politics, Shah became a widely recognized public figure during the pandemic while leading Maine’s public health response. His frequent briefings helped make him one of the state’s most visible officials during the health crisis. He later joined the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before returning to Maine’s public service landscape.
With his background in medicine, public health, and government leadership, Shah enters the Senate race with significant name recognition. His campaign will focus on presenting himself as a candidate who can represent Maine residents while bringing a public health perspective to national policymaking.
The upcoming Maine Senate contest is expected to attract considerable attention as both parties compete for influence during the 2026 midterm elections.
