Maine Democrat Graham Platner formally exits Senate race

Graham Platner formally withdrew from Maine’s U.S. Senate race on July 10, ending his Democratic candidacy two days after saying he would step aside following a rape allegation by a former romantic partner. Platner denies the allegation. The Maine Secretary of State said he filed the paperwork to leave the ballot, and the Maine Democratic Party now has until July 27 to name a replacement nominee. Platner had won the June 9 primary with more than 150,000 votes, the most ever for a Democratic Senate candidate in Maine. His exit came after pressure from prominent Democrats and progressives, including Bernie Sanders, and opens a scramble over who will challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the general election.