Graham Platner Withdraws from U.S. Senate Race

Maine Democrat Graham Platner officially ended his campaign for the U.S. Senate in a letter to state election officials on Friday.

He shared a picture of the letter on X, although he didn’t mention who he thinks might replace him in the race against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins this November.

The letter highlighted the 156,084 votes he secured in last month’s Democratic primary, asserting that his win—which was over 70 percentage points—indicates “people are hungry for change.”

“Maine people voted for a new kind of politics,” he stated in the letter, adding, “It represents the people of the real world, not the billionaires, the oligarchy, or the political establishment.”

He also remarked that Maine residents are in favor of initiatives like Medicare for All, stopping billionaires from buying elections, and ending what he described as “taxpayer-funded genocide and forever wars.”

“ICE is crap. Liberate Palestine. Lift up your hearts,” was his closing sentiment.

Platner, 41, had announced the suspension of his campaign earlier in the week following serious allegations from his ex-girlfriend Jenny Racicot, who accused him of entering her home without consent and raping her in 2021.

The Maine Democratic Party retracted their support after Racicot’s interviews with various media outlets. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also declared that they would not support Platner if he stayed in the race.

He was required to withdraw by 5 p.m. on July 13 to avoid remaining the Democratic candidate; now, party leaders have until July 27 to hold a convention and nominate a replacement.

In a video statement, Platner suggested he was being undermined by “big forces,” including the “corporate media” and the “political establishment.”

“This was the last week they tried to vote me out, which is why this is happening,” he commented, urging for an “open, transparent and democratic” process for the nomination.

The upcoming convention is expected to host about 600 party delegates, with 100 drawn from state committees and 500 elected proportionally from county committees.

Recent Allegations and Controversies Surrounding Platner

Platner mentioned, “The people of D.C. need to stay in D.C.” He, a Marine Corps combat veteran turned oyster farmer, faced further scrutiny after another ex-girlfriend, Lindsay Fifield, accused him of physical abuse during their relationship over a decade ago.

Additionally, a former campaign aide revealed that shortly after Platner announced his Senate bid, he sent inappropriate text messages to multiple women who were not his partners. There were also offensive posts resurfacing from nearly ten years ago, where he made disparaging remarks about Purple Heart veterans and mocked sexual assault victims.