{"id":887,"date":"2026-07-07T21:39:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T21:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbaneconomynews.com\/?p=887"},"modified":"2026-07-07T21:39:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T21:39:54","slug":"report-embattled-senate-candidate-graham-platner-wont-drop-out-unless-he-can-choose-his-replacement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbaneconomynews.com\/?p=887","title":{"rendered":"Report: Embattled Senate Candidate Graham Platner Won\u2019t Drop Out Unless He Can Choose His Replacement"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Maine Democrat candidate Graham Platner is refusing to drop out of the Senate race after being accused of rape unless he gets to approve his successor, the New York Post<\/em> reported Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Read more Florida Dem Andrew Gillum Arrested in Alabama on Drug Charges, Including \u2018Possession of Dangerous Drugs\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

The political winds shifted decidedly against the Maine Democrat Monday, after the latest sexual abuse allegations dropped in POLITICO.<\/p>\n

A woman who once dated Platner, a fellow Democrat, told the outlet that he broke into her house and \u201cforced her to have sex with him nearly five years ago despite her repeated objections.\u201d<\/p>\n

Platner called the allegations \u201ccategorically false,\u201d but stated he would be pausing his campaign nonetheless.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting and mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we\u2019re taking time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,\u201d he said Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n

By the end of the day, despite Platner\u2019s denials, virtually every congressional Democrat was on the same page, calling on him to drop out.<\/p>\n

Now, according to a source with knowledge of Platner\u2019s campaign, the candidate, his campaign and Democrat strategist Morris Katz are discussing a plan for him to drop out \u201conly if his replacement shares his left-wing values.\u201d<\/p>\n

Katz, a former advisor to Socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani\u2019s campaign,\u00a0 is described in the Washington Free Beacon<\/em> as a \u201c26-year-old Nepo Baby Theater Kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mamdani is one of a growing number of Democrat officeholders who has publicly called on Platner \u201cto drop out of the race\u201d in the past 24 hours.<\/p>\n

If the Democrats seem suspiciously unified in their messaging since the POLITICO story dropped, it\u2019s because they have only until Monday to replace Platner on the ticket, according to state election law.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Platner voluntarily withdraws by 5 p.m. on July 13, the Maine Democratic Party would have until July 27 to select a replacement nominee,\u201d the Maine Wire explained. \u201cIf he remains in the race beyond that deadline, Democrats will be unable to replace him on the November ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Katz, according to the Post,<\/em> is recommending that Platner stay in the race. The candidate \u201cappears to be holding the Democratic Party hostage,\u201d the Post<\/em> said.<\/p>\n

Read more White House Report Finds Smithsonian Leadership Engages In \u2018Extreme Political Activism\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cHis team is delusional,\u201d the source declared,\u00a0<\/em>adding that Platner seems to think \u201cwhoever might replace [him] would want a rapist\u2019s endorsement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Katz disputed the Post\u2019s<\/em> reporting Tuesday, stating on X, \u201cTo be very clear, no one in campaign deliberations or familiar with my thinking is talking to the NYP.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.),\u00a0 Platner\u2019s biggest backer until yesterday, reportedly wants former Maine senate president Troy Jackson to replace Platner for the Democrat nomination.<\/p>\n

Jackson, a fellow leftist who previously endorsed Platner, seems to check all the boxes.<\/p>\n

\n

The logger-turned-lawmaker appeared with Platner and Sanders at a \u201cFight the Oligarchy\u201d rally in May and recently came in third in the state\u2019s Democratic gubernatorial primary.<\/p>\n

Both Maine Dems have backed higher taxes on billionaires and a \u201cMedicare for All,\u201d single-payer health care system \u2014 with Platner leaning more into foreign policy issues and denouncing US support for Israel as \u201cshameful.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jackson has already submitted a filing with the Federal Election Commission to set up an exploratory committee to replace Platner on the 2026 ballot, the Bangor Daily News<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a \u2018testing the waters\/exploratory\u2019 committee,\u201d the July 7 filing stated.<\/p>\n

Maine Democrats have also launched a \u201cDraft Troy\u201d website touting Jackson as a \u201cproven progressive,\u201d and citing his blue collar credentials as a \u201clogger by trade and a champion of working people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other contenders to replace Platner reportedly include Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former CDC Director Nirav Shah, and Congressional hopeful Jordan Wood.<\/p>\n

Read more Analysis: Higher Electricity Rates in Blue States Linked to Renewable Energy Policies<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Maine Democrat candidate Graham Platner is refusing to drop out of the Senate race after being accused of rape unless he gets to approve his successor\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nReport: Embattled Senate Candidate Graham Platner Won\u2019t Drop Out Unless He Can Choose His Replacement - Urban Economy news<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/urbaneconomynews.com\/?p=887\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Report: Embattled Senate Candidate Graham Platner Won\u2019t Drop Out Unless He Can Choose His Replacement - 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