Maine Democrat Graham Platner Suspends Senate Campaign Operations

According to Axios, Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner said Wednesday he is “suspending campaign operations,” signaling he intends to withdraw as Democrats face a July 27 deadline to replace him on the ballot. The move follows sexual assault allegations reported by Politico, CNN and The Washington Post that Platner denies; after the reports, the Maine Democratic Party and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for him to quit, several lawmakers including Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren rescinded endorsements, and Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee would not invest in the race if Platner remains on the ballot. Maine Democrats said Wednesday they will hold a nominating convention to pick a new nominee, a process some progressives criticized.