The Maine Senate race took a dramatic turn Wednesday night as Democratic nominee Graham Platner announced he is suspending his campaign, bringing a sudden and chaotic end to a bid that had been dogged by scandal from the start. The Marine Corps veteran and oyster farmer had faced mounting pressure after a former girlfriend publicly accused him of sexual assault, an allegation he vehemently denies.
In a video posted to social media, Platner stated, “I just want to make it clear: This is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It’s not real.” But the damage was already done. Key Democratic backers and financial supporters pulled their support, leaving his campaign in a freefall even as he initially resisted calls to step aside.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Democrats see Maine as a prime target to flip a Republican-held Senate seat, which could be crucial for taking back control of the chamber in November’s midterm elections. Unseating five-term incumbent Susan Collins would give Democrats the power to block much of President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.
In an emergency meeting Wednesday night, Maine Democratic Party leaders voted to hold a nominating convention to select a new candidate, with a deadline of July 27 to get on the fall ballot. Among the potential replacements are former state Senate President Troy Jackson, former public health official Nirav Shah, and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. Jackson has already filed exploratory paperwork with the Federal Election Commission.
President Trump weighed in on the controversy during a press conference aboard Air Force One, saying Platner appeared to be in “a bind.” Trump noted that when a Republican woman made similar allegations against Platner, “nobody believed her,” but when the latest accuser came forward, “everybody believed.”
Meanwhile, Maine Beer Co. cofounder Dan Kleban has thrown his hat back into the ring, calling the allegations “horrifying and completely disqualifying.” He had previously withdrawn from the race when Governor Janet Mills entered, but Mills dropped out in April after polls showed her trailing Platner.
Actor Patrick Dempsey, a Maine native, quickly quashed rumors that he might enter the race. In an op-ed, he said he gave it “real thought” but decided against seeking the nomination, urging voters to look for a candidate who leads with empathy and a commitment to service.
Platner’s campaign had fielded a flash poll testing potential replacements, which showed Jackson leading Collins by 5 points, while Bellows and Shah were effectively tied with the incumbent. The poll also found Platner trailing Collins 47% to 42%.
As the Democratic Party scrambles to find a new standard-bearer, the race in Maine remains a toss-up, with Collins having survived previous “blue wave” elections. But the turmoil has injected new uncertainty into a contest that could determine the balance of power in the Senate.
