Maine Democrats have few tools at their disposal to force Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner to exit the race.
Platner has until July 13 to withdraw his bid to unseat Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), which would give the state party committee until July 27 to name a replacement.
The Maine oyster farmer, who was accused by a woman he dated of sexually assaulting her while drunk five years ago, is under pressure from Democrats across the spectrum to step aside following the revelation.
Democrats have already begun using what leverage they do have. The Maine Democratic Party has withdrawn its support, and the Democratic National Committee has paused its digital fundraising ads.
Even if Platner remains on the ballot, Democrats still control many of the resources needed to mount a competitive Senate campaign. National and state party committees, allied outside groups, and major donors can choose to withhold financial support, staff, and independent expenditures, effectively leaving Platner to wage an underfunded campaign against Collins. Platner, who had $2.2 million on hand as of May, could face an even steeper uphill battle against the well-funded incumbent if Democrats ultimately refuse to invest in the race.
Beyond financial pressure, Democrats are also seeking to isolate Platner politically by publicly calling on him to withdraw rather than handling the matter behind closed doors. The steady stream of demands increases the political cost of remaining in the race while signaling that party leaders no longer view him as their standard-bearer.
Ultimately, however, whether Platner withdraws remains his decision. Platner won the Democratic nomination in June and is currently set to appear on Maine’s ballot. If Platner withdraws after the July 13 deadline for reasons other than “catastrophic illness, condition or injury” or death, Maine Democrats will not be able to choose a new nominee under state law.
Reports have indicated that Platner hopes to have a say in the candidate who replaces him on the ballot, with the New York Times reporting that a source familiar with the campaign said if Platner steps aside, “it would only be with a guarantee of being replaced by a candidate who he believes is true to the values and vision and policy agenda of the campaign that Maine voted for.”
Rebecca Katz, who works for the political consulting firm advising Platner, said claims that Platner was refusing to withdraw unless he had a say in the replacement were “false.”
Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said in a video posted on X Tuesday night that the party has been “working around the clock to develop a process to replace our U.S. Senate nominee that is open, inclusive, transparent, and fair.”
Murphy-Anderson also claimed Platner’s campaign has reached out to the Maine Democratic Party “repeatedly” in “an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like.”
“We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner’s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like,” Murphy-Anderson said. “We have also reiterated that Graham Platner must drop out of this race, so that Democrats in Maine can focus on defeating Susan Collins this November. We look forward to making this process public as soon as Graham Platner formally withdraws from this race.”
DSA-ENDORSED DEMOCRAT WHO COULD REPLACE GRAHAM PLATNER HAS ALLEGATIONS OF HIS OWN
If Platner refuses to withdraw, a write-in campaign would offer Democrats a last-resort alternative, though such efforts are notoriously difficult because they require voters to write in a candidate’s name rather than simply select one on the ballot. Under Maine state law, write-in candidates have to file a “declaration of write-in candidacy with the Secretary of State,” through an approved form, on or before 5 p.m. 70 days prior to the election.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to Platner’s campaign and the Maine Democratic Party.
