Shah's 2015 Outbreak Response and Later COVID Work in Maine

Duckworth, who would serve alongside Shah if elected, renewed her criticism Thursday. She said Shah placed public image concerns ahead of veteran safety during the outbreak at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy.

Background on the 2015 Outbreak Shah led the Illinois Department of Public Health from 2015 to 2019. Investigations later showed the agency documented violations at the Quincy facility but did not issue a citation. Duckworth and Sen. Dick Durbin issued a joint statement in 2018 calling for Shah’s resignation.

The statement noted that Shah and other staff found the governor’s office to be an obstacle in ensuring a prompt response.

Shah has described the renewed criticism as a distraction and dirty politics. He said he followed federal public health guidance during the outbreak and acknowledged shortcomings in public communication. After leaving Illinois in 2019, Shah served as director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention until 2023.

He later became principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Maine deserves better than someone who put his public image before the safety of our Veterans.”

Shah finished third in Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial primary earlier this year before entering the Senate race to replace Graham Platner, who withdrew Tuesday after his own campaign became embroiled in scandal.

The Maine Democratic Party has stressed its commitment to transparency while selecting a replacement nominee. A party official said democracy, while messy, is always worth fighting for. Former Maine Attorney General James Tierney and Illinois state Sen.