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 denies allegations of misconduct, including a claim by a woman who said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop.
Background
Platner’s withdrawal comes days after the allegations surfaced. He had remained in the race through other controversies, including other allegations of misconduct and a tattoo with Nazi connections. However, after prominent political supporters began pulling their endorsements, Platner decided to suspend his campaign.
Platner’s anti-billionaire, pro-union platform had fired up the Democratic base, and he was polling competitively with incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. The Maine Democratic Party has announced a plan to hold a nominating convention to fill the seat if a vacancy arises.
Platner emphasized the success of his movement, built outside the establishment, and advocated for it to stay at the heart of the Democratic ticket for Senate. He also called for an open, transparent, and democratic process to replace him on the ballot.
Original reporting: Richardson, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
