{"id":5204,"date":"2026-07-08T15:01:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T15:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/07\/08\/democrats-accuse-graham-platner-of-trying-to-put-thumb-on-the-scale-of-process-to-replace-him\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T15:01:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T15:01:08","slug":"democrats-accuse-graham-platner-of-trying-to-put-thumb-on-the-scale-of-process-to-replace-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=5204","title":{"rendered":"Democrats accuse Graham Platner of trying to put \u2018thumb on the scale\u2019 of process to replace him"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"4e3be2c4-5706-458a-9b88-e2859cd13fcf\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a man stands with his hand on his chin near a microphone\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/4b7a1dba49ba488f2f7aa014d93daf12dcb35aa7\/668_424_4471_3576\/master\/4471.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"371.9167971371058\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">A wave of prominent Democrats urged Platner to stand aside.<\/span> Photograph: Joe Raedle\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"4e3be2c4-5706-458a-9b88-e2859cd13fcf\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">A wave of prominent Democrats urged Platner to stand aside.<\/span> Photograph: Joe Raedle\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Democrats accuse Graham Platner of trying to put \u2018thumb on the scale\u2019 of process to replace him<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Maine\u2019s embattled US Senate nominee has faced calls to withdraw after a sexual assault allegation he denies<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/2026\/feb\/17\/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Graham Platner, the embattled Democratic nominee for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/us-senate\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">US Senate<\/a> in Maine, has been accused of trying to influence the process of picking his replacement amid a chorus of calls for him to withdraw from the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Platner has publicly said he is \u201ctaking the time to reflect on the best path forward\u201d after an allegation of sexual assault, which he denied, was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/06\/graham-platner-assault-allegation\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">published on Monday<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">A wave of prominent Democrats, from the progressive senator Bernie Sanders to the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, urged him to stand aside.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"53be3757-519d-4d0c-90ef-892279823dd2\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-1oq85qr\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1rx5ky9\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-rzyoqz\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/07\/how-democrats-replace-graham-platner-maine-senate\" class=\"dcr-f35c0u\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-vvxpdt\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6z6e7\">\n<div class=\"dcr-zh9rih\">How could Democrats replace Graham Platner in Maine\u2019s Senate race \u2013 and who might they choose? <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-oj13vq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-ef9nua\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/maine\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Maine<\/a> election is seen as a key component of the party\u2019s effort to regain control of the US Senate in November\u2019s midterm elections. Platner remains in the race, for now.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">A senior state Democrat declared on Tuesday evening that Platner\u2019s campaign would have \u201cno role\u201d in selecting his replacement, claiming that his team had tried to sway the process.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Devon Murphy-Anderson, executive director of the Maine Democratic party, said: \u201cGraham Platner\u2019s team has repeatedly reached out to us in an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like. We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner\u2019s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the US Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cWe 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. We look forward to making this process public as soon as Graham Platner formally withdraws from this race.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Platner campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">As support for Platner collapsed in the wake of the recent accusations, a growing list of Democrats have signaled interest in taking his place on the November ballot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Among them are several figures who ran in last month\u2019s gubernatorial primary: former deputy director of the Maine Center for Disease Control &amp; Prevention, Nirav Shah; secretary of state, Shenna Bellows; and former state senate president, Troy Jackson.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Another name circulating is Jordan Wood, a former congressional staffer who briefly challenged Platner before switching to \u2013 and losing \u2013 the primary in Maine\u2019s second congressional district in the US House of Representatives. Wood has reportedly been fielding calls about entering the Senate race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In order for Democrats to finalize an alternative Senate nominee in Maine, Platner needs to end his campaign by 13 July at 5pm ET, according to state law. This would grant Democrats a two-week window \u2013 until 5pm ET on 27 July \u2013 to pick a replacement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Democratic nominee will face five\u2011term Republican Susan Collins in November\u2019s general election.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><a data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" href=\"#EmailSignup-skip-link-14\" class=\"dcr-76akua\">skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1tr4stg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-12qa5gp\">\n<hr class=\"dcr-1cjdlyj\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"EmailSignup-skip-link-14\" aria-label=\"after newsletter promotion\" role=\"note\" class=\"dcr-76akua\">after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">State senator Joe Baldacci, who also contested, and lost, the primary for Maine\u2019s second congressional district, blasted Platner for attempting to influence the selection of his replacement. \u201cGuess what after you have put the Democratic Party in a shambles and undermined all Democratic candidates running for office in Maine, then you should have no say in who will be your successor,\u201d Baldacci <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JoeBaldacci\/status\/2074290594319417550?s=20\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">wrote<\/a> this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Platner would be carrying \u201ca lead weight\u201d into the general election, added Baldacci.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution \u2013 the progressive organization founded by Sanders \u2013 said the latest allegation against Platner is \u201cdeeply disappointing for all of the grassroots supporters\u201d who placed \u201ca lot of faith\u201d in the Democratic nominee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">When it comes to whether the vetting process for Platner was sufficient, Geevarghese said in an interview it was up to leaders to be \u201cfully transparent\u201d in a time when it\u2019s \u201cvery difficult to keep things dark\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">He added: \u201cYou can do as many Google searches as you want, but it\u2019s really up to the candidate to be honest and forthcoming about what\u2019s in their background.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Geevarghese said Jackson \u2013 a fifth-generation logger and former state lawmaker \u2013 was best placed to replace Platner on the ballot. But there is concern that Jackson, who came third in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Maine, could face pushback for his previous support of Platner, after campaigning alongside him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI think Troy stands on his own two feet,\u201d argued Geevarghese. \u201cHe\u2019s his own candidate, he has his own track record over time, he\u2019s a known commodity in Maine politics,\u201d he said. \u201cHe [Jackson] did not ride Graham Plattner\u2019s coattails.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US news<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/maine\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Maine<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-senate\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US Senate<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Democrats%20accuse%20Graham%20Platner%20of%20trying%20to%20put%20%E2%80%98thumb%20on%20the%20scale%E2%80%99%20of%20process%20to%20replace%20him&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/08\/graham-platner-senate-calls-withdraw?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fjul%2F08%2Fgraham-platner-senate-calls-withdraw&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/jul\/08\/graham-platner-senate-calls-withdraw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1kq7f60\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A wave of prominent Democrats urged Platner to stand aside. Photograph: Joe Raedle\/Getty Images View image in fullscreen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":5206,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5204"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5204\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}