Maine Democrats plan convention to replace Platner: What to know about Senate race
1 of 2 |
Democrat Graham Platner has dropped out of the U.S. Senate race in Maine after a woman who dated him said he drunkenly forced her to have sex despite her telling him to stop. (AP Video: Nathan Ellgren)
2 of 2 |
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks during a primary election night watch party after winning the Democratic nomination Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Blue Hill, Maine. /Robert F. Bukaty)
1 of 2
Democrat Graham Platner has dropped out of the U.S. Senate race in Maine after a woman who dated him said he drunkenly forced her to have sex despite her telling him to stop. (AP Video: Nathan Ellgren)
2 of 2 |
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks during a primary election night watch party after winning the Democratic nomination Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Blue Hill, Maine. /Robert F. Bukaty)
2 of 2
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks during a primary election night watch party after winning the Democratic nomination Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Blue Hill, Maine. /Robert F. Bukaty)
By
KIMBERLEE KRUESI and PATRICK WHITTLE
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year]
SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) — The Maine Democratic Party has voted to hold a convention now that Democrat Graham Platner has announced he’ll drop out of the state’s U.S. Senate race after a former girlfriend accused him of sexual assault
Platner, who denies the allegation, faced considerable pressure from his own party to quit the race. The first-time candidate also was accused of trying to influence how his replacement is selected — a claim he also denied. He announced his decision to leave the race Wednesday
His exit leaves a crucial U.S. Senate race unsettled just months before the November midterm elections. The Maine Democratic Party, which by law is responsible for naming a replacement, announced it’ll move forward with holding a nominating convention to choose a new nominee. Meanwhile, potential contenders have already begun teasing their interest
Here’s what we know about the Maine Senate race and what could be next:
The clock was ticking
Democrat Graham Platner says he plans to withdraw from the U.S. Senate race in Maine after a woman who dated him said he drunkenly forced her to have sex despite her telling him to stop. Platner denies the allegation
According to Maine law, there’s a narrow provision for replacing general election candidates. Platner needed to step aside voluntarily by 5 p.m. July 13 before other contenders could have been considered
Once he formally withdraws, the law then says the Maine Democratic Party can choose a replacement, which must be done by July 27
The state Democratic Party held an emergency meeting Wednesday, where more than 100 state committee members signed off on holding a nominating convention in the event of a vacancy
Wisconsin Supreme Court refuses to release voter records sought by conservative activist
3 MIN READ
Trump’s pardons for Jan. 6 rioters don’t apply to DC pipe bomb suspect, judge rules
2 MIN READ
Red card furor puts Trump and Infantino’s relationship under the spotlight again
4 MIN READ
“There is an unprecedented amount of energy and enthusiasm among Maine Democrats, driven in part by many of the dedicated volunteers and supporters who were inspired by Graham Platner’s campaign,” Maine Democratic leaders said in a joint statement
It’s incredibly rare for a general election candidate to bow out of a race, in Maine or elsewhere
Platner campaign denies trying to influence the process
A key question surrounding how Platner is replaced has come down to just how much leverage the oyster farmer and Marine veteran has in this situation
Maine Democratic Party’s executive director, Devon Murphy-Anderson had previously released a statement accusing Platner’s campaign of repeatedly trying to “put their thumb on the scale” in determining the next Democratic nominee
Platner’s team responded with a statement saying “at no point has the campaign tried to ‘put its finger on the scale’” but said they were trying to understand the process. Thousands of Maine residents voted and volunteered for Platner, a progressive who outlasted establishment-backed Gov. Janet Mills, which the campaign believes should count in the decision
The sparring between Platner’s campaign and the party continued Wednesday. Murphy-Anderson said in a statement that Platner’s campaign “remains focused on distracting from the job of defeating Susan Collins in November with false accusations against us” and the party “remains hyper focused on developing a representative, transparent and inclusive process to select a new nominee when he chooses to withdraw from the race.”
Platner’s campaign sent a survey with a 48-hour deadline to supporters on Wednesday that asked recipients two questions: what message they have for the Maine Democratic Party, and what message they have for Platner
Separately Wednesday, President Donald Trump was asked if Democrats should be allowed to replace Platner on the Maine Senate ballot
“So he won the primary. It’s very hard for them. So, you question whether you believe the woman. A lot of people say big falsehoods,” Trump said
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from a NATO summit in Turkey, the president added of Platner: “He’s in a bind. But, should they be able to do it? Well I guess he’s gonna lose. I’d imagine he’s going to lose.”
List of possible replacements continues to grow
One possible contender, Nirav Shah, former director of Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has said he was “evaluating” whether to join the race. Shah said he’s been in contact with the Maine Democratic Party about ensuring that a possible replacement process is based on “openness, transparency and robustness.”
Troy Jackson, Maine’s former state Senate president, announced Wednesday he was officially entering the race. Jackson unsuccessfully ran to be the Democratic nominee for governor earlier this year with the backing of Platner and Our Revolution, the political organization started by Sen. Bernie Sanders. Jackson had filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday to launch a Senate exploratory committee
Jordan Wood, a former U.S. Senate candidate who then switched to run for Maine’s 2nd District and lost, posted Tuesday that he was “continuing conversations” with voters about joining the race
Other names circulating include Shenna Bellows, the current Maine secretary of state; Dan Kleban, founder of Maine Beer Co.; and Hannah Pingree, now Maine’s Democratic nominee for governor
One name that definitely won’t be on the ballot? Actor Patrick Dempsey. The “Grey’s Anatomy” star and Maine native wrote an editorial Wednesday saying despite being asked, he’s not interested
Voters say they are disillusioned
Platner’s campaigned galvanized hundreds of volunteers around the state. This week, they’ve been expressing disappointment about the behavior Platner is accused of and pondering the right course of action
Many called for him to drop out
Paul Attardo, 64, of Scarborough, said he couldn’t continue supporting Platner after the allegation, though he still has a sign promoting the candidate at the end of his driveway. He called the accusation “disappointing” as well as “indisputably sincere,” and said the party needs to get to work finding a replacement
The scenario reminded Attardo of the hasty replacement of Joe Biden during the 2024 election campaign
“We rally behind somebody, and not unlike the Biden administration, when everybody rallied behind Joe Biden, at the eleventh hour that failed,” he said. “I sort of feel we’re in a similar boat.”
Kruesi reported from Providence, R.I. Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed from Washington
PATRICK WHITTLE
