{"id":3500,"date":"2026-07-11T06:36:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T01:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=3500"},"modified":"2026-07-11T06:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T01:36:14","slug":"maine-democratic-senate-candidate-graham-platner-officially-withdraws-from-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=3500","title":{"rendered":"Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner officially withdraws from race"},"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 xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \">Graham Platner formally withdrew<a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/maine-democratic-senate-candidate-graham-platner-suspends-campaign\/story?id=134536907\" dir=\"ltr\"> <u class=\" \">from the Maine Senate race<\/u><\/a> on Friday, days after he announced he was suspending his campaign in the wake of a sexual assault allegation, which he has denied.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Platner shared his letter to the Maine Maine Secretary of State&#8217;s office in a post on X.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;I write to formally withdraw my candidacy for the United States Senate,&#8221; the letter reads.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\">\n<div class=\"GpQCA lZur gIjeL \" data-testid=\"prism-ratio-frame\">\n<div class=\"FvQLF iLTd NqeUA UzzHi iWsMV \"><picture data-testid=\"prism-picture\"><source media=\"(max-width: 414px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/cd060db9-ebb5-4bbd-bd27-09295fb79829\/platner-01-gty-jt-260707_1783444066758_hpMain.jpg?w=375, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/cd060db9-ebb5-4bbd-bd27-09295fb79829\/platner-01-gty-jt-260707_1783444066758_hpMain.jpg?w=750 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 415px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/cd060db9-ebb5-4bbd-bd27-09295fb79829\/platner-01-gty-jt-260707_1783444066758_hpMain.jpg?w=750, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/cd060db9-ebb5-4bbd-bd27-09295fb79829\/platner-01-gty-jt-260707_1783444066758_hpMain.jpg?w=1500 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/cd060db9-ebb5-4bbd-bd27-09295fb79829\/platner-01-gty-jt-260707_1783444066758_hpMain.jpg\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU PriDW aiQHS lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<p><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at his Primary Election event on June 9, 2026, in Blue Hill, Maine.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ YNujN JGtjI aZFDu rkKLh \">CJ Gunther\/Getty Images, FILE<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The Maine Secretary of State&#8217;s office confirmed via a press release that it has received the formal notice of withdrawal from the race, which had been one of the most closely watched in the country as Democrats seek to take back the Senate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Platner <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/key-takeaways-tuesdays-primaries-platner-wins-now-faces\/story?id=133733756\" dir=\"ltr\"><u class=\" \">won the state&#8217;s Democratic primary<\/u><\/a> in June with more than 70% of the vote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Earlier this week, a source told ABC News that Platner privately told staff that he planned to officially file the paperwork to withdraw from the race on Monday &#8212; the last day he could do so.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Platner&#8217;s exit from the race came after growing pressure from Democrats, including Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who were early supporters of his campaign, which focused on being an outsider who could take on wealth inequality.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">On Monday, Politico published a report containing an allegation from Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend, that Platner forced her into having sex without her consent after repeatedly telling him to stop while they were dating five years ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Platner has continued to deny the allegation, calling it &#8220;<a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/graham-platner-campaign-reflect-best-path-forward-after\/story?id=134529321\" dir=\"ltr\"><u class=\" \">categorically false.<\/u><\/a>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The Maine Democratic Party has until July 27 to pick another Democratic nominee. Earlier this week, the party had voted to hold a convention among party members to choose a nominee to choose his replacement to take on Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">In his notice of withdrawal, Platner writes that Maine voters want change and to further the American dream.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;People are desperate for change,&#8221; he wrote. For this broken system to be righted. For the American experiment to be furthered.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;My name may have been on the ballot, but that ballot line belongs to the people of Maine,&#8221; he later writes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Platner <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.com%2FPolitics%2Fgraham-platner-amid-controversies-advance-maine-democratic-senate%2Fstory%3Fid%3D133594129&amp;data=05%7C02%7CLeah.Sarnoff%40abc.com%7C9839fb52e681416d89f608dedbc24b60%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C639189824690858639%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=G1CAyOdZBFfyy0qtahDI9VLEBtN3oLcrQYhUc01ISYs%3D&amp;reserved=0\" dir=\"ltr\"><u class=\" \">faced<\/u><\/a> several <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.com%2FPolitics%2Fmaine-democrats-divided-platner-stick-reluctantly%2Fstory%3Fid%3D133656038&amp;data=05%7C02%7CLeah.Sarnoff%40abc.com%7C9839fb52e681416d89f608dedbc24b60%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C639189824690879164%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=d%2FfnjD5ZI8N315FCoQ%2B8rExV4YSpNrrulDYbY%2BtuJwg%3D&amp;reserved=0\" dir=\"ltr\"><u class=\" \">scandals<\/u><\/a> since he launched his campaign, including <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.com%2FPolitics%2Fgraham-platner-responds-reports-sexually-explicit-text-messages%2Fstory%3Fid%3D133490222&amp;data=05%7C02%7CLeah.Sarnoff%40abc.com%7C9839fb52e681416d89f608dedbc24b60%7C56b731a8a2ac4c32bf6b616810e913c6%7C1%7C0%7C639189824690898374%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=9xjSqDLQIWAEcdh69hvrtnzhtMDIi%2F1a%2BpTTAIz9%2FnE%3D&amp;reserved=0\" dir=\"ltr\"><u class=\" \">sending<\/u><\/a> sexually explicit texts to multiple women and previously having a tattoo with Nazi symbolism. Platner said he didn&#8217;t know his tattoo had a Nazi association and covered it up when he learned about its meaning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Platner responded to report about his explicit text messages, saying he and his wife &#8220;went through something hard &#8212; because of me&#8221;<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->and added that &#8220;people don&#8217;t care about gossip or headlines, they care that you&#8217;re fighting for their hospitals, their paycheck, their kids.&#8221;<\/p>\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>Graham Platner formally withdrew from the Maine Senate race on Friday, days after he announced he was suspending his campaign in the wake of a sexual assault allegation, which he has denied. Platner shared his letter to the Maine Maine Secretary of State&#8217;s office in a post on X. &#8220;I write to formally withdraw my&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3501,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/cd060db9-ebb5-4bbd-bd27-09295fb79829\/platner-01-gty-jt-260707_1783444066758_hpMain_16x9.jpg?w=1600","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abc-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3500","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=3500"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3500\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}