Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean says Graham Platon disqualified himself in Maine Senate race
Rep. Madeleine Dean said Graham Platon’s own actions, including a rape allegation, made him ineligible for support, and the candidate withdrew from the Maine Senate contest.
Graham Platon announced he will exit the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine after a woman accused him of non-consensual sex in 2021. The 41-year-old former state representative had previously denied the allegation and blamed party leaders for his departure.
Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., said she had never intended to endorse Platon and called his withdrawal “a very easy call.”
“I’m relieved. I’m sure Mainers are relieved. He disqualified himself,” Dean told Fox News Digital.
Dean added that the candidate’s past controversies, including a tattoo featuring a Nazi symbol and other allegations of misconduct, made him unsuitable for office. She emphasized that party values should not be compromised for electoral advantage.
“I didn’t want to fall into the trap of contorting myself in order to support a candidate who had succeeded in a primary. Democrats are better than that,” she said.
While some Democratic officials, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, defended Platon and urged focus on policy issues, others in the party have begun the process of selecting a replacement nominee before the filing deadline on Monday. The incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who is seeking a sixth term, is expected to face a new Democratic challenger amid significant GOP advertising spending.
The Democratic caucus is working to organize a rapid selection method for a new candidate, as the race remains a key target for the party in the 2024 elections.