Graham Platner has suspended his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat from Maine after a woman accused him of sexual assault in a report published on July 6, 2026. In a video statement, Platner denied the allegations, claiming they were false and intended to disrupt his campaign. He stated, "This is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It’s not real," and suggested that the timing of the allegations was aimed at removing him from the ballot.
Platner expressed a desire for an open and transparent nominating process for his replacement, emphasizing that the ballot belongs to the people of Maine. The Maine Democratic Party announced that its members voted to hold a nominating convention, with further details to be released soon.
The sexual assault allegation is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Platner, including past allegations related to a tattoo and social media posts. Following the recent allegations, several prominent Democrats withdrew their endorsements of Platner. He had previously indicated he would take time to consider his campaign's direction before ultimately deciding to drop out. The Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, commented on Platner's exit, attributing it to pressure from Democratic leadership.
With Platner no longer on the ballot, Democrats have until July 27, 2026, to select a new candidate to challenge incumbent Senator Susan Collins in the upcoming general election.