Democrat Graham Platner suspends campaign for key US Senate race in Maine
Democrat Graham Platner has suspended his campaign for US Senate in Maine, following a series of scandals that included a woman accusing him of sexual
Democrat Graham Platner has suspended his campaign for US Senate in Maine, following a series of scandals that included a woman accusing him of sexual assault. In the days since the accusation was made, Democrats have called on him to drop out of the race considered pivotal to their chances of gaining control of the US Senate. In a video posted online, Platner said his decision was not an admission of guilt but due to Democrats' threats to cut off campaign support.
He called the assault allegation "false". He said he would officially file to withdraw from the race once he's assured his replacement in the race against Republican Susan Collins is selected in a "transparent and democratic" way. "We're suspending campaign operations," he said in an 11-minute video posted to X, adding that he would file his paperwork to withdraw only after he was assured the process to replace him would be "open and democratic moving forward".
Platner added that he is not "trying to dictate to anyone who it should be or how we get there". "But I will say this: it needs to be open, transparent, and democratic. It needs to be reflecting the will and the values of the people that built this movement," he said. Under state law, Platner has to officially drop out by 13 July for a replacement name to be put on the ballot. The race is one of several pivotal to Democrats eyeing a longshot bid to flip control of the Senate in November's congressional elections, commonly called the midterms.
Maine is considered a must-win state for Democrats to take the majority in the Senate. But it's an uphill battle. The party must flip Collins' seat, hold on to all their existing seats and gain three more in the November midterm election.
The BriefWire