{"id":1795,"date":"2026-07-08T17:47:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T12:47:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=1795"},"modified":"2026-07-08T17:47:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T12:47:06","slug":"maine-democratic-party-warns-platner-he-has-no-role-in-replacement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=1795","title":{"rendered":"Maine Democratic Party warns Platner he has no role in replacement"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">The <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2557397\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/us-regions\/northeast\/maine\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Maine<\/a> Democratic Party issued a stern warning to U.S. Senate primary winner Graham Platner, telling him and his campaign that they have &#8220;no role&#8221; in choosing his replacement.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Platner has not yet withdrawn from the race, and is still the state&#8217;s Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate, despite mounting pressure from state and national Democrats to drop out after a woman who previously dated him <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2557398\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/explosive-sexual-assault-allegation-rocks-platner-campaign-shortly-before-key-deadline-crucial-senate-race\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">accused him of sexual assault<\/a> in a Politico report published Monday. Platner has denied the allegations, but said he is looking at &#8220;the best path forward,&#8221; as he understood the political fallout the accusation would create.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;The Maine Democratic Party has been working around the clock to develop a process to replace our U.S. Senate nominee that is open, inclusive, transparent, and fair,&#8221; state party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said in a video posted to X amid myriad newly surfaced allegations levied against Platner with less than a week before the deadline to lock in the candidate to challenge incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;The integrity of this process is just as important as the outcome, and we are committed to ensuring that Democrats across our state can have confidence in both,&#8221; Murphy-Anderson continued. &#8220;Unfortunately, Graham Platner&#8217;s team has repeatedly reached out to us in an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like. We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner&#8217;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2557399\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/what-happens-next-platner-drops-out-heres-who-could-replace-him-ballot-how-would-work\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IF PLATNER DROPS OUT? HERE&#8217;S WHO COULD REPLACE HIM ON THE BALLOT AND HOW IT WOULD WORK<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/graham-platner-smirk.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/graham-platner-smirk.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/graham-platner-smirk.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/graham-platner-smirk.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/graham-platner-smirk.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Graham Platner addresses the crowd at his watch party\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Graham Platner won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, celebrating his victory at the YMCA in Blue Hill, Maine, on June 9, and just one month later the state Democratic Party is forcing him out and having no say in who the nominee will be.<\/span> <span>(Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Amid the fight with the Maine party leaders, an official for the Platner campaign said it &#8220;has reached out to the party to try and understand what this process would look like&#8221; and &#8220;at no point has the campaign tried to \u2018put its finger on the scale.\u2019&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The official added that thousands of Maine residents voted and volunteered for Platner and they should play a role in the decision.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;While Graham wouldn\u2019t want to be a part of the process, he would want to make sure the voters and volunteers make this decision \u2014 not the political establishment,&#8221; the statement said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2557400\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/graham-platners-chances-dropping-out-skyrocket-94-after-party-revolt-kalshi\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>GRAHAM PLATNER&#8217;S CHANCES OF DROPPING OUT SKYROCKET TO 94% AFTER PARTY REVOLT: KALSHI<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/amy-gertner-graham-platner.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/amy-gertner-graham-platner.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/amy-gertner-graham-platner.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/amy-gertner-graham-platner.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/amy-gertner-graham-platner.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Graham Platner and his wife, Amy Gertner kiss at his watch party\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Wife Amy Gertner has stood by her man Graham Platner amid myriad allegations of extramarital affairs and sexual misconduct.<\/span> <span>(Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Fox News Digital has made multiple attempts to reach out to Platner&#8217;s campaign for further comment, and also reached out to the Maine Democratic Party.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2557401\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/explosive-sexual-assault-allegation-rocks-platner-campaign-shortly-before-key-deadline-crucial-senate-race\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/Platner-Vote-Night-060926-MS022.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/Platner-Vote-Night-060926-MS022.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/Platner-Vote-Night-060926-MS022.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/Platner-Vote-Night-060926-MS022.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/Platner-Vote-Night-060926-MS022.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Graham Platner raises his left hand to crowd at his watch party June 9\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Graham Platner has thus far been defiant and refusing to drop out without conditions, saying the Maine voters have picked him to be their nominee, &#8216;not the party establishment.&#8217;<\/span> <span>(Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Maine Democratic Party leaders <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2557402\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/top-platner-ally-turns-on-him-after-bombshell-rape-allegation-rocks-campaign\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">called on Platner to withdraw<\/a> Monday, saying &#8220;multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner&#8221; and that the party &#8220;stands with women and survivors.&#8221; The party noted that no replacement process can begin unless Platner suspends his campaig, while stating that &#8220;in no scenario is there a legal possibility for a nominee to be selected by an individual campaign.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;The sooner this process can begin, the more time we will have to administer an intentional and inclusive process for Mainers and Democrats,&#8221; the party said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;We are entrusted with deciding who represents our values and who carries our banner,&#8221; the party said. &#8220;That responsibility requires judgment, leadership, and a willingness to act when circumstances demand it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The timing is critical. According to the Maine Democratic Party, the deadline set by the secretary of state for a nominee to withdraw is July 13, and <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2557404\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/what-happens-next-platner-drops-out-heres-who-could-replace-him-ballot-how-would-work\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the deadline for a new nominee<\/a> to be submitted is July 27. If Platner does not withdraw by the July 13 deadline, Democrats would not have the option to name a replacement.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Names of potential replacements floated in media reports include former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Nirav Shah, the former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The race is one of Democrats&#8217; top pickup opportunities as they seek to defeat Collins, a five-term Republican incumbent, and regain control of the Senate.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><em>The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Eric Mack is a breaking news reporter and writer Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. ET to 2 p.m. ET, with a particular interest in stories that lead the news cycle on politics, elections, foreign affairs and government.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The Maine Democratic Party issued a stern warning to U.S. Senate primary winner Graham Platner, telling him and his campaign that they have &#8220;no role&#8221; in choosing his replacement. Platner has not yet withdrawn from the race, and is still the state&#8217;s Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1796,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Platner.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1795"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1795\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}