The Maine Democratic Party on Tuesday night accused U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner of improperly trying to influence the party’s process for picking a replacement if he drops out in the wake of multiple reports of sexual misconduct.
The sharp comments from party leaders who eventually embraced the oyster farmer and military veteran’s insurgent bid against five-term Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins come as the fallout over Platner’s latest controversies is at the center of an unprecedented process under national scrutiny.
State and national Democrats and major progressive groups have swiftly pushed for Platner to withdraw, and the party’s fundraising apparatus has threatened to invest elsewhere in a pivotal midterm year with Republican control of Congress on the line.
Frustration has intensified among Democratic leaders and multiple contenders concerned that Platner is pressing for an aligned candidate as a condition of dropping out. The party and a handful of candidates who’ve rescinded their Platner endorsements and are eyeing Senate runs are pressing for an open process, and the clock is ticking. Platner must drop out by 5 p.m. Monday, and the state party committee must name a new nominee by July 27.
“As you know, 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,” said Devon Murphy-Anderson, the party’s executive director, in a statement and update shared over email and social media. “Unfortunately, Graham Platner’s team has repeatedly reached out to us in an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like.”
Murphy-Anderson said party leaders have “repeatedly reiterated” to Platner’s camp that “they have no role in determining” the next Senate nominee or the process by which they’re chosen.
Several sources have said the party may try to hold a pop-up convention or nominating meeting in coordination with county Democratic leaders. The party is consulting with its legal team and reviewing state law and the Democrats’ charter to consider options and “a legal way to execute this nomination process,” Murphy-Anderson said.
“We have also reiterated that Graham Platner must drop out of this race so that Democrats in Maine can focus on defeating Susan Collins this November,” she added.
Platner has vehemently denied the misconduct allegations. One Maine woman accused him of raping her five years ago according to Politico and CNN, while another ex-girlfriend told the Washington Post Tuesday that he removed condoms without consent several times.
He said Monday that he’s taking time to reflect on the next path forward. The campaign noted that over 150,000 Mainers voted for Platner and more than 15,000 volunteers participated in the campaign, saying it is trying to understand the party’s process and at no point has tried to put its finger on the scale.
“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 campaign said.
The Maine Democrats are still grappling with how to execute the potential replacement process in an unprecedented situation. Murphy-Anderson said the party looked forward to “making this process public as soon as Graham Platner formally withdraws.”
“Our sincere goals are to reflect the party’s values of openness, inclusion, fairness and democratic participation and ensure confidence in the legitimacy of the outcome,” the party said in its Tuesday statement.