Maine Democrats have a narrowing window to replace their Senate nominee, Graham Platner, before the November general election following a report of alleged sexual assault.
POLITICO published a report Monday detailing a claim by Platner's ex-girlfriend that he entered her home uninvited and raped her nearly five years ago. Platner has denied the allegation but acknowledged the political implications, stating he is "mindful" of the situation and "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward."
The allegations come as Platner has quietly canceled multiple campaign events for his Senate race against Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Democrats view this race as crucial for their chances of regaining the Senate majority.
Nomination Deadline
Under Maine election rules, the Democratic Party can choose a new nominee if Platner withdraws by 5 p.m. on July 13. If he steps down by this deadline, party officials have until 5 p.m. on July 27 to select a replacement. This would provide the new candidate approximately 99 days to campaign for the general election.
Maine statute outlines that a replacement candidate must be a "qualified person," but does not specify the selection process for filling a vacancy.
Potential Replacements and Reactions
Conversations about potential replacements are already underway. One Maine resident reported receiving a text survey Monday, prior to the POLITICO report, that inquired about a replacement candidate for Platner. The survey suggested Brian Bryant, a labor union official, as a possible replacement and asked respondents about their voting preferences between Bryant and Collins. The sponsor of the survey was not indicated.
Another name circulating is Troy Jackson, a progressive Democrat and former state senator who previously ran for governor with endorsements from figures like Rep. Ro Khanna and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Governor Janet Mills has also been mentioned as a possibility, although Platner defeated her in the primary.
As of Monday, Platner remained the official Democratic nominee, and the party had not announced any plans to replace him. However, some endorsements have been rescinded. Rep. Ro Khanna withdrew his endorsement two hours after the report's release, calling the allegations "very serious and credible" and urging Platner to drop out of the race.
This is not the first controversy surrounding Platner. He has previously faced accusations of alleged misogynistic behavior from ex-girlfriends, leaked sexting scandals, offensive online posts, and a tattoo described as resembling a Nazi symbol. A Fox News poll conducted between June 23-27, before the latest allegations surfaced but after previous controversies, showed Collins leading Platner by three points, 50% to 47%.