Democrats are accusing their embattled Maine Senate nominee, Graham Platner, of trying to influence who would replace him if he drops out of the race after facing rape allegations.
Platner is being pushed by the Democratic party to drop out of the race after ex-girlfriend Jenny Racicot accused Platner of entering her home in the middle of the night and raping her in 2021. Democrats have been looking for a new nominee and Devon Murphy-Anderson, executive director of the Maine Democratic Party accused Platnerās team of trying to āput their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like,ā CNN reported Tuesday.
āWe have reiterated that Graham Platner must drop out of this race so that Democrats in Maine can focus on defeating Susan Collins this November,ā Murphy-Anderson said according to the outlet.
Collins has served in the Senate since 1997 and remains the only Republican in the upper chamber representing a state Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2024.
āThe Maine Democratic Party has been working around the clock to develop a process to replace our US Senate nominee that is open, inclusive, transparent, and fair,ā Murphy-Anderson said in a X video released Tuesday night.
Platnerās campaign did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundationās request for comment.
āWhile Graham wouldnāt 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,ā a spokesperson for Platnerās campaign told CNN.
Platner is being pushed by the Democratic party to drop out of the senate race, and several democrats have retracted their endorsement of Platner calling for him to quit the race.
However, a survey that was sent out as a text blast for Platnerās volunteers in Maine asks them to provide messages for both the candidate and the Democratic Party.
āWe firmly believe that the supporters and volunteers who built this movement deserve to have a real role in any nomination process,ā the message on the survey states. āIf the Democratic Party hopes to harness our movement, and avoid disillusioning the hundred of thousands of supporters who came into the fray because of our movementās policies, it must consult the feedback and proposals of the people who built and sustained this.ā
āWe will review every submission and share it with the Party,ā it adds.
Platner has vociferously denied his allegations saying, āthese allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation on non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue,ā in a statement to Politico.
The Democrat has faced several allegations of misconduct during his campaign including reports in June that he had āintimidating and disturbingā behavior to his ex-girlfriends. A statement from Racicot was taken at that time but she did not reveal any allegations of rape during the report.
Platner will have to drop out of the race by July 13 in order for Democrats to be able to pick a replacement nominee.
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