Maine Democrats weigh Senate candidate switch as Platner faces new allegation

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Maine Democrats candidate switch

Highlights

A new 2021 sexual assault allegation against Maine Senate candidate Platner has led Democratic leaders to anticipate his withdrawal before the July 13 deadline.
Democrats are considering Troy Jackson and other contenders to replace Platner, with the party required to finalize a substitute candidate by July 27 if Platner withdraws.
Susan Collins's Maine seat is a major Democratic Senate pickup target, with internal party divisions and poor vetting jeopardizing what is seen as a must-win race.

Replacement timetable and leading alternatives

As first reported by Bloomberg, citing Politico, the latest allegation comes from a woman who says Platner sexually assaulted her while he was drunk in 2021, a claim he calls "categorically false" in a video released Monday afternoon while saying he is taking time to consider his next steps.

Democratic leaders at the state and national level now largely see his exit as the only realistic option. Under Maine law, the party can choose a substitute candidate if Platner withdraws by July 13, and would then have until July 27 to make the replacement.

Among the names seen as viable alternatives, former State Senate President Troy Jackson stands out as a candidate likely to retain support from Platner’s progressive base. Jackson and Platner endorsed each other in last month’s primaries, both won backing from Senator Bernie Sanders, and Jackson maintains ties with labor and left-leaning groups that helped elevate Platner.

Other Democrats are also being discussed, including candidates who trailed in the governor’s primary. Governor candidate Hannah Pingree has also called for Platner to step aside, adding to the pressure from prominent Democrats such as Ro Khanna, Hasan Piker, Elizabeth Warren and Our Revolution.

Senate stakes rise for Maine and national Democrats

Control of the seat held by Republican Senator Susan Collins is viewed as central to any realistic Democratic path back to a Senate majority. Collins remains the only Republican senator in one of the 19 states that voted against President Donald Trump in all three of his campaigns, and Democrats regard Maine as one of their clearest pickup opportunities.

Bloomberg’s analysis argues that the party’s difficulties stem from failures by both progressive and establishment wings. Left-wing activists who recruited Platner are portrayed as having done limited vetting, while national progressive backers are described as standing by him too long as allegations mounted.

The party establishment also is depicted as misjudging the race by trying to clear the field for Governor Janet Mills, whose delayed entry and weak campaign failed to unite Democrats. The result is that a race Democrats consider must-win is now likely to turn on whether a late replacement can offer a more credible challenge to Collins.

Our earlier coverage of the Maine Senate race tracked the mounting pressure on Democrat Graham Platner after new sexual assault allegations, as he weighed whether to withdraw. We noted that a near-term legal deadline could allow Democrats to replace him on the ballot, a high-stakes decision with implications for their push to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins and the fight for Senate control.

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