Democrat Graham Platner is expected to formally withdraw from the U.S. Senate race in Maine by Monday, the final day allowed under state law, according to sources cited by Axios and Bloomberg. Platner has been in conflict with state party leadership regarding the campaign's direction. He confirmed in a call with his staff that he intends to file the necessary paperwork with the Secretary of State to remove his name from the ballot. The Maine Secretary of State's office stated it had not yet received an official withdrawal notice from Platner as of Thursday morning.
Platner announced on Wednesday that he was suspending his campaign following allegations of sexual assault made against him by an ex-girlfriend. He has denied the allegations, stating that they have been used as an excuse to undermine his campaign. He emphasized that his decision to withdraw is not an admission of guilt but a response to the loss of campaign resources.
In response to Platner's situation, the Maine Democratic Party announced plans to hold a convention to select a new candidate, with a deadline of July 27 to do so. Several individuals, including Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former state Senator Troy Jackson, have already declared their intentions to run for the nomination. Platner's successor will compete against incumbent Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) in a race deemed important for Democratic control of the Senate.