Democrat Graham Platner announced a surprise campaign update amid online sexual assault allegations on July 9, 2026.
The announcement comes after Democrats asked him to drop out of the race.
The Maine elections are considered a make or break for Democrats in an attempt to gain control of the U.S. Senate.
Platner, sharing a video post on
He went on to say, “incredibly difficult,” while saying that “we don’t do it because of the accusations, we do it because of the structures that are being taken away from us by those in power.”
Platner, in an 11-minute video post, said he would file his retirement papers only after being assured that his successor would be “open and democratic in the future.”
“But I will say this: It must be open, transparent and democratic. It must reflect the will and values of the people who built this movement,” Platner said.
For the uninitiated, under state law, Platner has until July 13 to officially file retirement paperwork to have a replacement name printed on the ballot.
Maine is one of the state elections that Democrats must win in the midterms to gain a majority in the Senate.
For now it seems like an arduous task: Democrats first unseat Collins’ seat, keep all the seats they currently hold, and pick up three more in the November midterms.
