A "vote here" sign is seen in November 2025. On Wednesday, Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner dropped out the race two days after a woman said he sexually assaulted her in 2021. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
July 8 (UPI) -- Graham Platner dropped out of the Maine Senate race on Wednesday evening, two days after allegations arose that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2021.
In a video, Platner said that "we believe that for the movement to continue, it can't be me -- and for that reason we are suspending campaign operations."
"It's not the false allegations, though, that have brought us to where we are," he said. "It's the fact that they're being used by the political establishment to put structural pressure on us. We live in a political system that is not built for normal people. It is a system built structurally to make sure movements like ours cannot flourish."
The decision allows Democrats to choose a new candidate for the race against Republican Susan Collins, the five-term incumbent. Platner had until Monday to drop out; Democrats now have two weeks to pick a contender for the race.
