Maine Democrats plan convention to replace scandal-hit Graham Platner
The Maine Democratic Party has voted to hold a nominating convention to replace Senate candidate Graham Platner, who withdrew after being accused of sexual assault. Several potential contenders have expressed interest ahead of a July 27 deadline.
The Maine Democratic Party has voted to hold a convention to select a new Senate nominee after its candidate, Graham Platner, withdrew from the race following sexual assault allegations. In an 11-minute video posted Wednesday evening, Platner angrily accused the Democratic establishment and corporate media of using the allegations to undermine his campaign and acting as "judge, jury and executioner." He maintained the accusations were "not remotely true" and driven by "large forces ... working against [him] personally."
By law, the state party is responsible for naming a replacement. Party officials announced they would move forward with a nominating convention, with a tight deadline of July 27. Several candidates have already expressed interest. Troy Jackson, a former state senator who ran for governor earlier this year, quickly announced his candidacy, as did Dan Kleban, owner of Maine Beer Company, who previously dropped out of the Senate primary. Other potential contenders include Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Maine CDC director Nirav Shah, state legislator Valli Geiger, and former congressional aide Jordan Wood.
In a statement issued less than an hour before Platner suspended his campaign, party officials noted an "unprecedented amount of energy and enthusiasm among Maine Democrats," partly inspired by Platner's campaign. They expressed hope to harness that energy around a new nominee to defeat incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in November.
Other developments: President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its birthright citizenship ruling, citing two billboards in Texas advertising services to pregnant Mexican women. US stock markets fell Wednesday as oil prices surged after Trump declared the Iran-US ceasefire over at the NATO summit in Ankara. A federal judge ordered the release of over $5 million Trump owes E. Jean Carroll from a 2023 sexual abuse and defamation trial; Trump filed an appeal within an hour.
