Maine’s Democratic party is rushing to replace Graham Platner in the U.S. Senate race.

More than 5,500 Maine Democrats have submitted applications to attend Delegate Nominating Meetings this weekend.

All 16 counties are holding meetings Saturday and Sunday where 500 delegates will be chosen.

Those delegates will then participate in the nominating convention the following Saturday.

They’ll vote on all candidates in multiple rounds until they narrow it down to the final two candidates, and one receives a majority to be the Democratic Senate candidate.

Thirteen candidates met the 5 p.m. Wednesday deadline to officially announce their intent to run.

On Thursday, one of the candidates, Paige Loud, dropped out, calling the process to select a new nominee “a deeply unserious spectacle.”

Loud went on to say in a statement: “Instead of speaking to communities, demonstrating a comprehensive grasp on federal policy, and earning the trust of the electorate, candidates must play a political chess match to strategically pack as many pledged supporters into a voting body on only 601. This is not a game I’m willing to play, and I can no longer in good conscience put forth energy and resources towards it that I should otherwise spend on immediate issues like getting ICE out of Maine and securing healthcare for all.”

Democrats who ran in the primary for governor have now thrown their hat in the ring in the Senate race, including former Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson.

Platner dropped out of the race last week after a woman accused him of rape.