Graham Platner, Maines Democratic Senate nominee, officially withdrew from the race on July 10 after facing a rape allegation and mounting pressure, filing formal paperwork with the Maine Secretary of State. Citing financial instability and the need to preserve the progressive movements momentum against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, Platner denied wrongdoing and blamed the political establishment for forcing his exit. The Maine Democratic Party now has until July 27 to select a replacement through a public nominating convention, with former state Sen. Troy Jackson and former CDC official Nirav Shah among early contenders. Platner urged the process to honor the 150,000+ voters who backed his historic primary win and embody the real democracy they demanded.
Original Article Source Link:
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/10/nx-s1-5888709/graham-platner-maine-senate-susan-collins