By KIMBERLEE KRUESI, PATRICK WHITTLE and JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Democratic nominee Graham Platner hasn’t resigned from the Maine U.S. Senate race following an allegation of sexual assault. But the succession battle to take his place was already underway Tuesday.
The allegation reported Monday prompted a chorus of calls for Platner to depart the high-stakes race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, which could decide party control of the Senate. Platner’s long-time backer, Sen. Bernie Sanders, “recommended that he step aside.” Then, Tuesday evening, The Washington Post reported that an ex-girlfriend of Platner’s had accused him of removing condoms during sex without her consent.
Platner, who has denied all the allegations, has been mum on whether he’ll step aside. And the Maine Democratic Party, charged with creating a process to pick his replacement, hasn’t publicly announced their plans.
On Tuesday night, Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson released a video saying the party is developing an “open, inclusive, transparent and fair” process but won’t disclose details until Platner withdraws. Platner’s team has repeatedly tried to “put their thumb on the scale,” she said.
“We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner’s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like,” she said.
An official for the Platner campaign responded that it “has reached out to the party to try and understand what this process would look like” and “at no point has the campaign tried to ‘put its finger on the scale.'” The official added that thousands of Maine residents voted and volunteered for Platner and they should play a role in the decision.
“While Graham wouldn’t want to be a part of the process, he would want to make sure the voters and volunteers make this decision — not the political establishment,” the statement said.
So far, the succession battle has played out in a murky power vacuum. A growing number of candidates are teasing their entry into the race as a fight shapes up between the progressive wing and the establishment camp of the Democratic Party.
Platner became a populist hero among the party’s left flank, pulling far ahead of an establishment-backed candidate, Gov. Janet Mills, in the primary. Now, progressive groups fear that political ground could be lost.
“To the Democratic establishment: This is not your opening,” said Joseph Geevarghese, who leads Our Revolution. The organization founded by Sanders backed and then withdrew its endorsement of Platner after the sexual assault allegation. The group said Tuesday that it was “rallying behind” another progressive contender, Troy Jackson, who announced he’s “exploring” a candidacy.
The sexual assault allegation against Platner
In the allegation published Monday by Politico, a woman whom Platner previously dated said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop. It is the latest in a string of controversies the first-time candidate had weathered, but the seriousness of the assault claim was too far for many of his supporters in the Democratic Party.
Jenny Racicot, who lives in Maine, told Politico that Platner entered her home in 2021 while drunk and assaulted her. Racicot said she had been in an on-and-off relationship with Platner, but she cut off contact with him after that night and told him the incident wasn’t consensual. She said in a CNN interview on Monday evening that she opted not to fight back for fear of Platner, a former Marine, becoming more violent.
Replacing Platner may further divide Democrats
The pressure for Platner to withdraw from the Senate race has only increased given the short deadlines Maine law allows for replacing general election candidates. There is no mechanism for Democrats to remove Platner from the ballot, and the deadline to withdraw is 5 p.m. July 13. State law gives the authority to choose a replacement to the state party. Any replacement candidate must be named by July 27.
The lack of communication from Platner and the state’s Democratic Party has contributed to some confusion about what comes next as candidates tentatively toss their hats in the ring.
Some are arguing that the next Democrat should echo Platner’s progressive messaging, pointing to his success at rallying voters across the state. Others cautioned that having ties to Platner will only doom an already uphill campaign against Collins. Many are pushing for an open process even with limited time.
“No one’s enjoying this experience, and it seems like the consensus step forward should be having a fair and open process that everybody feels is legitimate,” said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a political action committee that backed Platner but now calls for him to suspend his campaign.
One possible contender, Nirav Shah, the former director of Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said Tuesday he was “evaluating” whether to join the race. Shah said he’s been in contact with the Maine Democratic Party about ensuring a possible replacement process is based on “openness, transparency and robustness.”
“Every single day that we don’t have a nominee, and a process and a clear pathway for the nominee, is another day that we’re letting Sen. Collins continue to get her message out,” Shah told The Associated Press. “As of right now, it’s not clear what the process will be.”
Shah, who came in second in this year’s Maine Democratic gubernatorial primary, added, “I want to give the party grace, because we’re building this plane as we’re flying it.”
Maine’s governor, Mills, who sought the Democratic Senate nomination but dropped out before the June 9 primary, could be considered as another contender. Mills was supported by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer but abandoned her campaign, saying she couldn’t raise the money needed to compete.
Another possible replacement is Jackson, Maine’s former state Senate President, who unsuccessfully ran to be the Democratic gubernatorial nominee earlier this year with the backing of Platner and Sanders. Jackson filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission Tuesday to launch a Senate exploratory committee.
“Remember: Progressives overwhelmingly won the primary. A progressive MUST be on the ballot,” Our Revolution said in a fundraising email, which described Jackson as a logger and union leader who helmed Sanders’ past presidential efforts in Maine.
Jordan Wood, a former U.S. Senate candidate who then switched to unsuccessfully run for Maine’s 2nd District, posted Tuesday that he was “continuing conversations” with voters about joining the race.
Other names circulating include Shenna Bellows, the current Maine Secretary of State; Dan Kleban, founder of Maine Beer Co.; and Hannah Pingree, currently Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial nominee.
Bellows said in a statement she will “seriously consider entering this race.”
A Platner voter is ‘heartbroken’
Joanie Monteith, a passionate supporter from the southern Maine town of York who organized a trivia night about Platner in March, said through tears Tuesday that she was devastated by the news. She was waiting for another public statement from Platner before making a decision about whether she could keep supporting him.
“I’m numb, and I’m waiting for what Graham has to say,” she said. “I’m trying not to be a part of this public trial. And I’m heartbroken. And I’m heartbroken for him and his wife.”
She added that she believes the allegations are serious.
“I’m not going to blame a victim. Because if this is true I feel very bad for the woman,” she said.
Another Maine voter, Lee Holman, said she wants Platner to stay in the race.
“I feel like the people of Maine have spoken,” the Democrat said. “If they wanted Janet Mills, they could have voted for her.”
She said the allegation against Platner may be legitimate, but she questions the timing. Democrats, she added, can be too quick to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” by calling on politicians facing allegations to resign.
“Every time we think we have a chance to snatch our democracy back, something gets in the way,” she said.
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Kruesi reported from Providence, R.I. and Bedayn from Austin, Texas. Matt Brown in Minneapolis and Ali Swenson in New York City contributed.