Graham Platner has formally withdrawn his candidacy for the Maine Senate race, according to a letter submitted to the Maine Secretary of State’s office on Friday. This action comes days after Platner announced he was suspending his campaign in the wake of a sexual assault allegation, which he has denied.
Platner shared a copy of his withdrawal letter on X, stating, “I write to formally withdraw my candidacy for the United States Senate.” The Maine Secretary of State’s office confirmed receipt of the notice.
The race had been one of the most closely watched contests as Democrats aim to regain control of the Senate. Platner had won the state’s Democratic primary in June with over 70% of the vote, securing his position to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the November general election.
Earlier in the week, sources indicated that Platner planned to file the official withdrawal paperwork on Monday, the final day he could do so. His departure from the race followed mounting pressure from prominent Democrats, including Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who had previously supported his campaign that emphasized his outsider status and focus on wealth inequality.
The controversy intensified after Politico published a report detailing an allegation from Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend, who claimed Platner forced her into non-consensual sex five years ago. Platner has consistently refuted the allegation, calling it “categorically false.”
In response to Platner’s withdrawal, the Maine Democratic Party announced it will hold a convention on July 25 to select a new nominee. This date is just two days before the July 27 deadline for ballot changes. The convention will comprise 601 delegates from Maine’s 16 counties, including 101 members of the Democratic State Committee and 500 delegates appointed from each county. Voting will proceed in rounds until a candidate secures a majority, and the proceedings will be livestreamed.
Maine Democratic State Committee Chair Charlie Dingman stated in a release, “The convention will be fair, representative, and as transparent as possible as we all come together in service of our ultimate goal: defeat Susan Collins and win this Senate seat.”
In his withdrawal letter, Platner expressed that Maine voters are seeking change and a furtherance of the American dream, writing, “People are desperate for change. For this broken system to be righted. For the American experiment to be furthered.” He added that the ballot line ultimately belongs to the people of Maine.
Platner’s campaign was marked by several controversies since its inception, including reports of sending sexually explicit texts to multiple women and a past tattoo with Nazi symbolism. Regarding the tattoo, Platner stated he was unaware of its Nazi association and covered it upon learning its meaning. Responding to the explicit text message reports, he mentioned he and his wife had gone through a difficult time “because of me,” asserting that voters prioritize fighting for their healthcare, paychecks, and children over gossip.
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