Maine Democrats launch nominating convention to replace Platner
Maine Democrats hold nominating convention to select new Senate nominee after Platner's withdrawal.
Event / Politics
Maine Senate Race 2026
Democratic primary and general election for Maine's U.S. Senate seat, including candidate controversies and party responses.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 7 Jul, 00:23 UTC
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What happened
Maine Democratic Party commits to open and transparent process for selecting new Senate nominee
Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson announced that the party is working to develop a process to replace the U.S. Senate nominee that is open, inclusive, transparent and fair. The party will make the succession process public as soon as Platner formally withdraws from the race.
Pressure mounting for Senate candidate Graham Platner to withdraw following sexual assault allegation
Following a Politico report in which former girlfriend Jenny Racicot accused Graham Platner of sexual assault, Democratic Party figures including Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Ro Khanna, Senator Ruben Gallego, and media personalities have called for Platner to exit the race for U.S. Senate in Maine. The allegations add to previous controversies involving extramarital sexting, a Nazi tattoo, physical misconduct allegations, and offensive remarks.
Maine Democratic Party accuses Platner campaign of attempting to influence nominee replacement process
Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson stated that Graham Platner's campaign team repeatedly reached out to the party in an attempt to influence what the process would look like for selecting a replacement Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate should Platner withdraw from the race. The party reiterated that Platner's team has no role in determining the successor or the process itself.
Platner has until July 13 deadline to withdraw from Maine Senate race
Graham Platner has until July 13 to formally withdraw from the U.S. Senate race in order for the Maine Democratic Party to select and certify a new nominee. If he does not withdraw by that date, he will remain on the November ballot as the Democratic nominee.
Platner's campaign denies attempting to influence nominee selection process
A campaign official representing Graham Platner denied that the campaign attempted to 'put its finger on the scale' in the nomination process. The official stated that the campaign reached out to the party to understand what the process would look like, and that over 150,000 Mainers voted for Platner's campaign and over 15,000 volunteered.
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren rescind endorsements of Graham Platner
Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who previously campaigned for Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, rescinded their endorsements or called for an end to his campaign following the sexual assault allegations against him.
Maine Democrat Graham Platner faces sexual assault allegations in U.S. Senate race
Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing sexual assault allegations. Maine resident Jenny Racicot alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited and forced her to have sex despite her telling him to stop multiple times in 2021, a claim Platner denies. A second allegation came from ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield, who accused him of removing condoms during sex after she explicitly directed him to wear them. Platner's campaign denied both allegations, stating they were 'categorically false and politically motivated.'
Maine Democratic Party plans to select replacement candidate if Platner drops out by July 13 deadline
Maine Democrats announced plans to choose a new Senate candidate within two weeks if Graham Platner withdraws from the race. If Platner suspends his campaign before 5 p.m. on July 13, 2026, the Maine Democratic Party will be able to replace him on the general election ballot with another candidate, whom they would need to select by July 27. Platner has not indicated he will step down despite the mounting pressure.
Stephen King deletes social media post appearing to support Graham Platner after rape allegation
Author Stephen King deleted a post on social media that appeared to support Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner following the release of sexual assault allegations. King initially wrote that he hoped Platner 'doesn't' drop out of the race. After drawing criticism and backlash from social media users, King clarified his position, stating 'Not defending Graham Platner. If he committed rape, he should bow out.' King's initial post was criticized as dismissive of the rape allegation.
Senator John Kennedy warns of Democratic Party 'reckoning' over Platner controversy
Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana stated during a Tuesday night appearance on 'Hannity' that a 'reckoning is coming for the Democratic Party' over their handling of the Graham Platner scandal. Kennedy criticized Democrats for ignoring warning signs about Platner because they were focused on winning the Senate seat, arguing that the controversy now threatens to engulf the party.
Jenny Racicot accuses Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner of sexual assault in 2021
Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident who previously dated Graham Platner, accused him of sexual assault in 2021. According to Racicot's account, Platner entered her home while drunk and uninvited, then forced her to have sex despite her repeated requests to stop. She provided corroborating evidence to Politico and stated she did not resist out of fear of Platner, a former Marine, becoming more violent. She ended contact with Platner weeks later via Instagram after confronting him the next morning about the incident.
Graham Platner faced multiple controversies during 2025-2026 campaign
Before the sexual assault allegation, Graham Platner faced several controversies during his campaign for Maine Senate. In October 2025, CNN revealed removed Reddit posts with unsettling comments about sexual assault prevention. Later that month, Platner disclosed a Nazi-linked tattoo he claimed he did not know had Nazi associations and said he covered it up upon learning its meaning. In June 2026, the Wall Street Journal reported allegations that Platner sent sexually explicit texts to multiple women while married.
Maine election law sets July 13 deadline for Platner to withdraw
Under Maine state law, Graham Platner must withdraw by 5 p.m. on July 13 to allow the Maine Democratic Party to nominate a replacement candidate for the general election. If Platner withdraws by that deadline, the party has until July 27 to select a replacement. If he withdraws after July 13, no replacement can be named, leaving Democrats unable to field a Senate candidate.
Maine Democratic Party officials discuss replacement process if Platner withdraws
Maine Democratic Party officials indicated they would conduct an open, transparent, and inclusive process to select a replacement if Platner withdraws. Options discussed included a pop-up convention or statewide caucus. Potential replacement candidates mentioned included former gubernatorial candidates Nirav Shah and Troy Jackson, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, Maine Beer Company founder Dan Kleban, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, and gubernatorial nominee Hannah Pingree. Governor Janet Mills, who previously sought the Democratic Senate nomination, could also be considered.
Senator Susan Collins responds to Platner allegation
Republican Senator Susan Collins, Platner's opponent in the 2026 Maine Senate race, described the allegations against Platner as 'appalling' but stated it was not her role to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate.
Graham Platner denies sexual assault allegation
Graham Platner denied the sexual assault allegation, calling it 'categorically false' in a video statement released Monday. His campaign characterized the allegations as 'coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives' and claimed they were timed to coincide with the ballot deadline, similar to previous allegations the campaign dismissed as false.
Democratic leaders call for Graham Platner to withdraw from Maine Senate race
Following the sexual assault allegation, multiple Democratic leaders called for Platner to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee), Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Ro Khanna withdrew their endorsements and urged Platner to drop out. The Maine Democratic Party leadership also called for his withdrawal, stating the party stands with women and survivors. Gillibrand and Schumer stated the DSCC would not invest in the race if Platner remained the nominee.
Graham Platner won Maine Democratic Senate primary in June 2026
Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and Marine veteran, won the Maine Democratic primary in June 2026 to become the party's nominee to challenge Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins in the November general election. His populist messaging and progressive positions resonated with voters seeking a fresh political voice.
Bernie Sanders calls on Graham Platner to drop out of Maine Senate race
Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats and one of Platner's strongest supporters, issued a statement on July 7, 2026, recommending that Platner step aside from the Maine Senate race in light of sexual assault allegations. Sanders had previously campaigned with Platner and defended him against other scandals.
Democratic deadline for replacing Senate candidate is July 27, 2026
Maine Democrats have until July 27, 2026, to find a replacement candidate for the U.S. Senate race if Graham Platner withdraws from the race.
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2 alternative perspectives
Platner suspends Maine Senate campaign after assault allegations
Platner withdraws from Maine Senate race after sexual assault allegations and Democratic pressure.
Platner withdraws from Maine Senate race; party names successor
Platner withdraws from Maine Senate race; Democrats begin nominating convention for successor.
Democratic leaders formally call on Platner to withdraw from Senate race
Maine Democratic leaders formally call on primary winner Platner to withdraw, with July 13 deadline set.
Platner exits Maine Senate race as allegations mount
Maine Senate candidate Platner withdraws after sexual assault allegations and reporting on misconduct.
GOP signals reckoning awaits Democrats over Platner succession planning
Democrats plan successor selection; GOP warns of reckoning over party handling.
Sanders, Warren distance from Platner as allegations persist
Sanders and Warren rescind Platner endorsements; King deletes supportive post after assault allegations.
Platner Campaign, Party Clash Over Nominee Replacement Process
Party and Platner campaign dispute nominee replacement process as July 13 deadline looms.
Primary Winner Platner Navigates Victory Amid Mounting Controversies
Primary winner Platner faces sexual assault allegations and party pressure to withdraw, but maintains donor support.
Democratic leaders call for Platner withdrawal ahead of July 13 deadline
Democratic leaders formally urge Platner to withdraw by July 13 deadline; succession plan discussions underway.
Racicot details sexual assault allegation against Platner from late 2021
Jenny Racicot alleges Platner sexually assaulted her in late 2021; Platner denies the claim.
Party pressure mounts as Sanders, Mamdani urge Platner to exit race
Sanders, Mamdani, and Maine Democrats demand Platner withdraw; July 27 deadline set for replacement.