Graham Platner formally withdrew from the Maine Senate race on Friday, days after he introduced he was suspending his marketing campaign within the wake of a sexual assault allegation, which he has denied.
Platner shared his letter to the Maine Secretary of State’s workplace in a publish on X.
“I write to formally withdraw my candidacy for the US Senate,” the letter reads.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at his Major Election occasion on June 9, 2026, in Blue Hill, Maine.
CJ Gunther/Getty Pictures, FILE
The Maine Secretary of State’s workplace confirmed through a press launch that it has acquired the formal discover of withdrawal from the race, which had been one of the intently watched within the nation as Democrats search to take again the Senate.
Platner won the state’s Democratic primary in June with greater than 70% of the vote to problem Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins within the normal election in November.
Earlier this week, a supply informed ABC Information that Platner privately informed workers that he deliberate to formally file the paperwork to withdraw from the race on Monday — the final day he may achieve this.
Platner’s exit from the race got here after rising stress from Democrats, together with Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who have been early supporters of his marketing campaign, which centered on being an outsider who may tackle wealth inequality.
On Monday, Politico revealed a report containing an allegation from Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend, that Platner pressured her into having intercourse with out her consent after repeatedly telling him to cease whereas they have been courting 5 years in the past.
Platner has continued to disclaim the allegation, calling it “categorically false.“
What to find out about Maine Democratic conference to select new nominee
Hours after Platner formally withdrew from the race, the Maine Democratic Celebration introduced it will maintain a conference to decide on a brand new nominee on July 25 — simply two days earlier than a July 27 deadline.
The conference might be made up of 601 delegates from Maine’s 16 counties. Of these, 101 might be members of the Democratic State Committee, who’re elected by Maine voters. The remaining 500 might be delegates appointed from every county.
Voting might be performed in rounds till one candidate receives a majority, and the conference might be livestreamed.
“The conference might be honest, consultant, and as clear as potential as all of us come collectively in service of our final purpose: defeat Susan Collins and win this Senate seat,” Maine Democratic State Committee Chair Charlie Dingman mentioned in a information launch asserting particulars of the conference.
In his discover of withdrawal, Platner writes that Maine voters need change and to additional the American dream.
“Individuals are determined for change,” he wrote. For this damaged system to be righted. For the American experiment to be furthered.”
“My identify could have been on the poll, however that poll line belongs to the individuals of Maine,” he wrote within the letter together with his formal withdrawal from the race.
Platner faced a number of scandals since he launched his marketing campaign, together with sending sexually specific texts to a number of girls and beforehand having a tattoo with Nazi symbolism. Platner mentioned he did not know his tattoo had a Nazi affiliation and lined it up when he discovered about its which means.
Platner responded to report about his specific textual content messages, saying he and his spouse “went by way of one thing laborious — due to me” and added that “individuals do not care about gossip or headlines, they care that you just’re combating for his or her hospitals, their paycheck, their youngsters.”
