Graham Platner has formally withdrawn his candidacy from the Maine Senate race, according to election officials — triggering the process to name his replacement on the ballot.
“The Secretary of State’s Office today confirmed that a formal notice has been received from U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner,” the office said in a statement Friday. “Because the candidate officially withdrew before 5 p.m. of the 2nd Monday in July, … his name will not appear on the ballot, and his political party may replace him.”
The notice comes two days after Platner publicly announced he would end his bid, and follows POLITICO’s report that a woman he dated accused him of sexual assault — an allegation he denies.
The Maine Democratic Party has yet to detail in full what the process will look like to choose a new candidate who will face GOP Sen. Susan Collins in the fall, other than broadcasting its intent to hold a convention before the July 27 deadline to name a replacement. The scramble has already begun, with at least eight contenders throwing their hats into the ring so far, including several former gubernatorial candidates, like former public health official Nirav Shah, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson.
Platner on Friday posted the note of withdrawal that he sent to the Secretary of State’s office on social media. In it, he thanked voters for their support and said he will seek to “further the movement we have built together and the future we believe in.”
He delivered a similar note to campaign staff in a private group chat, according to a person in the chat who was granted anonymity to detail the message.
“I just submitted this to the division of elections. Thank you all so much, this was the best thing I have done in my life. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. I love you all,” Platner wrote to staff.
The Maine Democratic Party did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
State party officials announced late Thursday that hopefuls will have to submit 500 signatures from Democratic voters in order to qualify for the convention — a boon for the several candidates who can reactivate campaign infrastructure from their recently failed gubernatorial or congressional bids.
Lisa Kashinsky contributed to this report.
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