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
It 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, after the allegations surfaced. Hannah Pingree, the Democratic nominee for Maine governor, called for his immediate departure from the race, saying, “Democrats need a nominee who can beat Susan Collins in November. Graham Platner is no longer that candidate.”
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.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
