Maine Democrats to Name New Senate Candidate After Graham Platton Withdraws

Graham Platton announced Wednesday that he is suspending his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine, citing the loss of campaign infrastructure and fundraising ability. The decision follows a 2021 sexual assault allegation made by a former girlfriend, which he denied as "false" in a video posted on X. Platton said the allegation placed a heavy burden on him and that continuing the race would hinder the movement he leads.

The Maine Democratic Party now has until July 27 to name a new candidate, and it said it will hold a nominating convention to select a replacement. Party officials promised a transparent process, though the compressed timeline leaves little room for a full primary campaign.

National Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the party’s campaign arm, warned they would not invest in the race if Platton remained on the ballot. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and others called the allegation "serious and credible" and urged Platton to step aside.

Platton, a Marine veteran and oyster farmer, won the Democratic primary on June 9 after former Governor Janet Mills withdrew from the contest. His anti-establishment rhetoric had attracted progressive endorsements, but past controversies—including a tattoo with a Nazi association and deleted online posts—had already raised questions about his candidacy.

Republican incumbent Susan Collins, seeking a sixth term, remains the only GOP senator from a state that leans Democratic. Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to take control, making the Maine race a focal point for the party’s national strategy.