Graham Platner, who won Maine Democrats’ U.S. Senate primary in June, has suspended his campaign after an allegation of sexual assault that he denies. Party officials have scheduled a July 25 nominating convention to pick a replacement ahead of a late-July deadline to finalize the ballot.
The Maine Democratic Party has scheduled a statewide nominating convention for Saturday, July 25, in Bangor, where 601 delegates are expected to choose a new nominee for U.S. Senate. Reporting by Roll Call and several Maine outlets described the accelerated process as a response to Platner’s decision to withdraw after the allegation became public.
Platner said he planned to end his candidacy after a former girlfriend accused him of rape, an allegation he has denied. The allegation was first reported by Politico, and Platner’s withdrawal came as prominent Democratic allies and groups publicly pulled their support.
With Platner stepping aside after winning the June primary, Democrats must select a replacement quickly to meet the state’s deadline for certifying the nominee for the general election ballot. Under party rules described by Maine news organizations, would-be candidates must file paperwork with the party and collect 500 nominating signatures from Democrats who were registered as of June 9, the day of the primary.
Among those taking steps to seek the nomination is David A. Costello of Brunswick, who appeared on the Democratic primary ballot earlier this year, according to a candidate list published by the town of Brunswick.
The Democratic nominee will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has represented Maine in the Senate since 1997 and won reelection in 2020.
Maine Senate President Mattie Daughtry, a Democrat, said the party is looking for a candidate who can maintain the momentum created in the primary campaign.
“We need to find who can pick up that mantle,” Daughtry said, as quoted in NPR reporting.
