The Maine Democratic Party escalated its feud with scandal-hit Senate candidate Graham Platner late Tuesday, publicly accusing his campaign of trying to rig the process to choose his successor if he drops out of the race. Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson released a blistering video on social media, saying Platner’s team has repeatedly attempted to “put their thumb on the scale” of the replacement mechanism.
“We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner’s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like,” Murphy-Anderson said. The remarks came as pressure mounts on Platner to withdraw following a sexual assault allegation published by Politico on Monday. The Platner campaign did not respond to a request for comment but denied to Politico that it was trying to exert influence over the party’s decision.
The internal party clash threatens to disrupt what Democrats see as a prime pickup opportunity in Maine’s Senate race. Incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins is widely viewed as vulnerable, especially after President Trump lost the state in 2024 and national political headwinds favor Democrats. To regain the Senate majority, the party needs to flip four seats—and Maine is considered a must-win. Platner has until July 13 to voluntarily withdraw; if he stays in past Monday, he will remain on the November ballot regardless of party wishes.
Virtually every major Democratic figure has now called for Platner to exit, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who was one of Platner’s earliest and most prominent endorsers. “The allegation is serious, and the party must move forward with a candidate who can unite voters and defeat Susan Collins,” Sanders said in a statement Tuesday. The state party has kept its replacement process under wraps, refusing to release details until Platner formally steps aside. With the clock ticking, the party’s public rebuke underscores the urgency—and the fear that Platner’s continued presence could jeopardize Democratic hopes in one of the year’s most critical Senate battlegrounds.