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Maine Senate Race Upended as Democrat Quits Over Assault Claims
Graham Platner suspended his Maine Senate campaign after sexual assault allegations he denies. Party leaders now face a tight deadline to pick a replacement before November.
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Maine's U.S. Senate race took a sharp turn Wednesday after Democratic nominee Graham Platner suspended his campaign. The decision followed sexual assault allegations Platner has repeatedly denied.
"I am not guilty," Platner said in a statement. He offered no further details on the accusations or his legal strategy.
The suspension throws a competitive seat into uncertainty. Maine's Senate race was already drawing national attention as a potential flip opportunity. With Platner out, state party officials face a tight timeline to name a replacement before the November ballot deadline.
Maine election law gives the state Democratic Party committee the authority to select a new nominee. The process typically involves a vote of party insiders, not a primary. No front-runner has emerged publicly.
The allegations surfaced in local media reports last week. Platner, a first-time candidate who won the Democratic primary in June, had been running on a platform of economic populism and healthcare reform. His campaign raised roughly $2.3 million through the end of June, according to Federal Election Commission filings.