Graham Platner Withdraws From Maine Senate Race After Assault Allegations

Maine Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner formally withdrew from the 2026 race on Friday, following public allegations of sexual assault by a former girlfriend and mounting pressure from party officials to step aside.

The withdrawal leaves Maine Democrats without a candidate just months before the general election, forcing the party to rapidly organize a new nominating process as the state’s political landscape shifts.

Platner, who won the June 9 Democratic primary with over 70% of the vote, announced his decision in a letter submitted to the Maine Department of the Secretary of State and posted on X. The Secretary of State’s Office confirmed receipt of Platner’s signed withdrawal letter, noting that only a formal written notice—not a public statement—constitutes an official exit from the ballot, according to a press release.

Allegation and Party Response

Platner’s exit follows a report by Politico detailing a woman’s allegation of sexual assault during their relationship in 2021. After the story’s publication, Platner suspended his campaign, and the Maine Democratic Party publicly urged him to withdraw. Party executive director Devon Murphy-Anderson stated Thursday that the party is committed to a transparent process for selecting a new nominee, and that candidates may now begin collecting signatures and filing nomination forms.

"My name may have been on the ballot, but that ballot line belongs to the people of Maine. As such, please consider this notice as my official withdrawal from consideration for this office."

— Graham Platner, former Senate candidate

Platner, a self-described democratic socialist, addressed supporters in his withdrawal letter, expressing gratitude for their efforts and emphasizing the movement’s goals, including Medicare for All and campaign finance reform. "On June 9, 156,084 Mainers voted for a new kind of politics. One that is representative of people down here in the real world—not billionaires, oligarchs, or the political establishment," Platner wrote.

Replacement Process and Party Plans

With Platner’s formal withdrawal, the Maine Democratic Party will now convene a nominating convention to select a new Senate candidate, as outlined by Murphy-Anderson. The party has published candidate rules on its website and pledged to keep the process open to public scrutiny. Some potential candidates have already begun positioning themselves, with some aligning with Platner and others distancing themselves from his campaign.

Murphy-Anderson told supporters, "We are fully committed to transparency, so we are making those candidate rules available to everyone, and you can read them at mainedems.org. We are continuing to race toward the release of our fair and inclusive process to select a new U.S. Senate nominee, and we are not leaving this office until that process is in the hands of you, the people."

Broader Context and Next Steps

Platner’s withdrawal comes at a critical juncture for Maine Democrats, who must now quickly identify and unite behind a replacement ahead of the November election. The party’s decision will determine its strategy against the Republican incumbent and could influence turnout among progressive and moderate voters. The Secretary of State’s Office emphasized that Platner’s name will be removed from the ballot as required by law, and the timeline for the nominating convention will be announced in the coming days.

Neither Platner nor the Maine Democratic Party addressed the substance of the allegations in detail, and as of Friday, no criminal charges have been reported. The party has not indicated whether Platner will play any role in selecting his successor.