Platner Quits, and Maine Democrats Get 18 Days to Invent a Nominee
Insiders will pick the replacement at a convention; Republicans hold an $8 million blitz aimed at a candidate who doesn't exist yet
Graham Platner suspended his U.S. Senate campaign Wednesday night, ending a bid that began as the progressive insurgency of the 2026 cycle and collapsed under two on-the-record accusations of sexual violence — the second of which Narativ covered Tuesday, as his own party locked him out of choosing a successor.
Maine Democrats voted within hours to replace him by nominating convention. State law sets the deadline: a party may swap its nominee until 5 p.m. on the fourth Monday in July — July 27. Eighteen days to field a candidate against Susan Collins in the seat Democrats have circled for six years.
