Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has suspended his campaign and plans to file paperwork to withdraw from the ballot in the general election. Platner said that he and his wife Amy believe that for the movement to continue, it can’t be him running, and for that reason, they are suspending campaign operations.
Allegations and Controversy
Platner’s decision comes days after a woman he’d dated said in interviews that Platner drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop. Platner denied the allegation, but said he would be considering next steps for his campaign. Prominent political supporters of Platner’s began pulling their endorsements, including Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
The Maine Democratic Party announced a plan to hold a nominating convention to fill the seat, if a vacancy arises. State law allows Platner to be replaced on the ballot if he withdraws by July 13. The replacement candidate must be named by July 27, leaving the party little time to find a replacement.
Platner’s anti-billionaire, pro-union platform fired up the Democratic base, and he was polling competitively with Sen. Susan Collins in the general election. However, he had remained in the race through other controversies, including other allegations of misconduct and a tattoo that he’s since covered up of a symbol with Nazi connections.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.
