politics
Graham Platner Files Paperwork to Withdraw from Maine Senate Race
Graham Platner submitted withdrawal paperwork on July 10, 2026, two days after announcing his exit in a video. The Maine Democratic Party must choose a replacement nominee by July 27. Platner won the June primary with a record vote total.
Jul 10, 5:05 PM·1m read3 sources
JE
Strategic exitAllegation exit
dailykos.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Graham Platner filed paperwork on Friday, July 10, 2026, to withdraw his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Maine. The Maine Secretary of State's office confirmed receipt of the filing. The filing came two days after Platner posted an 11-minute video on social media announcing his intent to leave the race.
Post by @Jerusalem_Post on X
In the video he stated that the campaign was no longer viable financially. "We are going to lose our ability to fundraise. We are going to lose all of the things that any campaign needs on the basic level simply to function," Platner said.
He added that the decision was not an admission of guilt and aimed to preserve the progressive movement's ability to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Platner won the Democratic nomination on June 9, 2026, with more than 150,000 votes, the highest total for any Democratic Senate candidate in Maine history.
He campaigned on affordability, universal health care, and reducing corporate influence in politics. The Maine Democratic Party has until July 27, 2026, at 5 p.m. to select a replacement through a nominating convention of around 600 delegates.
Candidates must declare by July 15 and collect signatures from at least eight of the state's 16 counties. Former state Sen. Troy Jackson and former CDC official Nirav Shah have launched campaigns for the nomination.
In his withdrawal notice Platner urged the process to reflect the voters who supported a different kind of politics on June 9. He ended the notice with the statement: "F*ck ICE. Free Palestine.
