SCARBOROUGH, Maine — Democrat Graham Platner has yet to say whether he will exit the Maine U.S. Senate race, even as a former girlfriend has accused him of sexual assault — an allegation he firmly denies.
Platner, a first-time candidate, has been facing intense calls from within his own party to step down. He has also been accused of attempting to influence how a potential replacement would be chosen — something he likewise denies.
The uncertainty surrounding Platner has thrown a critical U.S. Senate race into disarray just months before November’s midterm elections. The Maine Democratic Party, which is legally responsible for selecting any replacement candidate, has not yet outlined how it would go about doing so. At the same time, several prospective candidates have already begun hinting at their desire to enter the contest.
Here is a breakdown of where things stand and what could happen next:
Under Maine state law, there is a narrow window for replacing a general election candidate. Platner would need to voluntarily step aside by 5 p.m. on July 13 in order for a replacement to be considered. As of now, he has only agreed to pause his campaign.
If he does withdraw, Maine law gives the state Democratic Party the authority to select a replacement, and that decision must be made by July 27.
What the actual selection process would look like, however, remains unclear. It could involve a vote by the state committee, a caucus, or possibly a state political convention.
Such a situation — a general election candidate stepping away from a race — is extremely uncommon in Maine and across the country, leaving party officials scrambling to put a plan in place if and when Platner formally announces his withdrawal.
A central question in this saga is how much leverage Platner — an oyster farmer and Marine veteran — actually holds in the situation.
On Tuesday, Devon Murphy-Anderson, the Maine Democratic Party’s executive director, issued a statement accusing Platner’s campaign of repeatedly attempting to “put their thumb on the scale” when it comes to choosing the next Democratic nominee.
“We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner’s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like,” she said.
Platner’s team fired back with their own statement, saying “at no point has the campaign tried to ‘put its finger on the scale’” and that they are simply trying to understand how the process works. The campaign pointed out that thousands of Maine residents voted and volunteered for Platner — a progressive candidate who outlasted establishment-backed Gov. Janet Mills — and argued that should factor into any decision.
Among those considering a run is Nirav Shah, the former director of Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, who said he is “evaluating” whether to enter the race. Shah said he has been in contact with the Maine Democratic Party about making sure any replacement process reflects “openness, transparency and robustness.”
Another name in the mix is Troy Jackson, Maine’s former state Senate president, who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination earlier this year with the support of Platner and Our Revolution, the political organization founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders. Jackson filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday to establish a Senate exploratory committee.
Jordan Wood, a former U.S. Senate candidate who later switched to run for Maine’s 2nd District and lost, posted Tuesday that he was “continuing conversations” with voters about potentially joining the race.
Other names being floated include Shenna Bellows, the current Maine secretary of state; Dan Kleban, founder of Maine Beer Co.; and Hannah Pingree, who is currently the Maine Democratic nominee for governor.
Platner’s campaign had energized hundreds of volunteers across the state. This week, many of them have expressed disappointment over the behavior he stands accused of, while wrestling with what the right path forward should be.
A number of those supporters have called on him to drop out of the race.
Paul Attardo, 64, of Scarborough, said he can no longer back Platner following the allegation — even though a campaign sign still sits at the end of his driveway. He described the accusation as “disappointing” and “indisputably sincere,” and said the party needs to move quickly to find a replacement.
The situation brought to mind for Attardo the last-minute replacement of Joe Biden during the 2024 presidential campaign.
“We rally behind somebody, and not unlike the Biden administration, when everybody rallied behind Joe Biden, at the eleventh hour that failed,” he said. “I sort of feel we’re in a similar boat.”
