The Maine Democratic Party is abandoning its own U.S. Senate nominee after a growing wave of allegations against Democrat Graham Platner, with party leaders now publicly demanding he end his campaign.
In a statement released Tuesday, the party’s top leadership said it could no longer stand behind Platner following multiple allegations made by women in recent weeks.
“Maine Democratic Party leadership takes seriously our responsibility to hold every candidate who seeks to represent our state to the highest standard.
Over the past several weeks, multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner. Today’s statements take those allegations even further.
Maine Democratic Party leadership is calling on Graham Platner to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.
The Maine Democratic Party leadership stands with women and survivors, and that principle does not bend based on party affiliation. We respect the women who made the hard decision to come forward. Speaking up is often costly.
We are entrusted with deciding who represents our values and who carries our banner. That responsibility requires judgment, leadership, and a willingness to act when circumstances demand it.
This Senate race comes at a pivotal moment in the struggle against a government, supported by Senator Collins, that serves the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of ordinary Maine people. It is essential that we refocus this campaign on that struggle.”
Graham Platner
The statement was signed by Maine Democratic Party Chair Charlie Dingman, Vice Chair Imke Schessler, and Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson.
The extraordinary rebuke marks a dramatic break between the state party and Graham Platner, who now faces mounting pressure from his own party to step aside as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. So far, powerful colleagues such as Cory Booker and Ruben Gallego.
