Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner appears to be digging in despite mounting pressure to quit the race, with sources telling The New York Post he is refusing to step aside unless he has a say in who replaces him on the ballot.
A source familiar with campaign discussions said Platner, his campaign, and political strategist Morris Katz have been discussing the possibility of withdrawing, but only if his replacement shares his progressive political views.
The standoff comes as Democrats face a July 13 deadline for the 41-year-old oyster farmer to withdraw. If Platner exits the race before then, Maine Democratic Party leaders have pledged to launch what they described as an “open” and “transparent” process to select a replacement nominee.
“This vibes to me like a play from Bernie Sanders to slide in Troy Jackson,” another source said.
Another source mocked the idea that Platner would have influence over the process, saying he apparently “assumes whoever might replace [him] would want a rapist’s endorsement.”
Platner has firmly denied allegations made Monday by former girlfriend Jenny Racicot, who accused him of sexual assault.
“His team is delusional,” the source said, adding that Katz had urged Platner to remain in the race.
Katz, 27, works for Fight Agency, a Democratic political consulting firm that has helped elect progressive candidates, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“He wants to be the next David Axelrod … and Mamdani is his Obama,” a third Democratic source said of Katz. “But obviously Mamdani can’t be the president, so he’s trying to find this white, working-class caricature to take up that mantle.”
According to the report, Katz traveled to Maine later Tuesday as discussions continued over a possible replacement candidate after Mamdani publicly called on Platner “to drop out of the race.”
Representatives for the Platner campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
The Maine Democratic Party called on Graham Platner to withdraw on Monday after saying “multiple women have made serious, credible allegations.”
The state party doubled down on Tuesday in a video reiterating its stance against Platner and accusing his team of attempting to “put their thumb on the scale” of the process.
Update from Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson on the Maine Senate race. pic.twitter.com/Jzj9ofinU8
— Maine Democrats (@MaineDems) July 8, 2026
Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Platner’s highest-profile supporter, is reportedly backing former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson as the party’s replacement nominee to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Jackson, a former logger who appeared alongside Platner and Sanders at a “Fight the Oligarchy” rally in May, finished third in Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial primary.
Both Jackson and Graham Platner have championed progressive priorities, including higher taxes on billionaires and a “Medicare for All” single-payer health care system. Platner has also focused heavily on foreign policy, calling U.S. support for Israel “shameful” and accusing the country of committing “genocide” against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The New York Times first reported the behind-the-scenes discussions, which could reshape a Senate race Democrats had viewed as one of their strongest pickup opportunities.
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville dismissed the notion that national party leaders could simply force Platner from the race or prevent similar situations in future primaries.
“How can they? They don’t have any control,” Carville told The Post.
“If you look at what happened to my dear friend Michael Bennett,” Carville said, referring to the former moderate Democratic senator and Colorado gubernatorial candidate, “the idea that there’s some controlling entity in the Democratic Party — there’s a council of elders — it’s just absurd.”
“It’s not a failure of the Democratic Party. … The party’s being challenged,” he added. “If there’s any fault with the lack of vetting, it would be with Platner’s own campaign.”
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