Friday, July 10, 2026

Graham Platner ends Maine Senate campaign amid scandal

Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine, suspended his campaign on Wednesday following allegations of sexual assault reported by Politico, in which a woman said he forced her to have sex. Platner, a progressive oyster farmer and military veteran, denied all allegations but faced mounting pressure from prominent Democrats, party organizations, and advocacy groups to step down. His withdrawal leaves Maine Democrats scrambling to find a replacement candidate to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.