Maine Democrats accuse Platner of attempting to influence his replacement before he drops out

The Maine Democratic Party accused U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner’s campaign Tuesday of trying to influence the process for selecting a replacement nominee, as pressure mounts for him to leave the race.

“Unfortunately, Graham Platner’s team has repeatedly reached out to us in an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like,” Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson wrote in an email to the state and executive committees, which was later shared with media.

Platner has yet to drop out but has until July 13 to do so and have a replacement. Then, the party would have just a few weeks to decide who might succeed him and how that candidate will be chosen. 

But only 20 days out from that ultimate deadline, the party does not plan to make its process of choosing a potential replacement public until Platner officially steps down. 

“We’ve 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 wrote. “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.” 

The party — which is legally responsible for determining how to replace Platner if he withdraws — said it is “committed to an open and transparent process.”

That’s the best bet Democrats have to retain the voter base Platner galvanized, Mark Brewer, chair of the political science department at the University of Maine told Maine Morning Star earlier Tuesday. 

“The more open, transparent and participatory they are, the greater the chances that Platner supporters not only accept who the replacement nominee is, but also maybe be enthusiastic about that replacement, because they’ll feel like they had a seat at the table,” he said.

Platner has faced dozens of calls by state and national Democrats to step down. On Monday, he said he was “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” in a video response to Politico’s reporting on 41-year-old Jenny Racicot’s sexual assault allegations against him. Racicot said Platner, who she’d been in an on-and-off relationship with for more than two years, entered her home uninvited in 2021 while intoxicated and forced himself on her while she repeatedly told him to stop. Platner denied those allegations.

Soon after, the Maine Democratic Party called on him to drop out.

“Over the past several weeks, multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner. Today’s statements take those allegations even further,” the party said.  

 “We respect the women who made the hard decision to come forward. Speaking up is often costly.”

If Platner does not withdraw by July 13, he will be on the ballot in November.