# content
Bernie Sanders’ Maine U.S. Senate Candidate of choice quitting under fire, sources say

By Ted Cohen

The embattled U.S. Senate hopeful from Maine who’s had major backing from Vermont’s senior senator will be withdrawing from the senate race, a published report said Monday.

“A well-placed source told the Washington Reporter that Graham Platner is poised to drop out,” the Washington Reporter said in what it’s calling an “exclusive.”

Platner, accused Monday of having raped a former “friend,” was an unknown name who became a leading candidate due in no small measure to the early support of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont.

Platner overwhelmingly won the Democrat primary in Maine last month but since his campaign began has been subject of one scandal after another.

In a related development, California congressman and key Platner supporter Ro Khanna called on Platner to quit.

Platner is denying claims by a woman who told Politico he sexually assaulted her.

But for the first time in facing allegations of criminal behavior, Platner on Monday publicly admitted he is “taking the time to reflect” and considering “the best path forward.”

Khanna, rumored to be looking at a 2028 presidential bid, threw in the towel Monday after weeks of standing by his fellow Democrat, who overwhelmingly won the party primary last month to take on five-term GOP U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” Khanna said. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”

The outlet claiming an exclusive on Platner leaving the race said it was told that Platner “taking time to reflect” is “the same thing as him dropping out.”

As a growing number of Democrat leaders were calling on Platner to resign, Sanders wasn’t among them, his absence conspicuous.

“I’m still waiting to hear from Bernie Sanders,” said Maine State Rep. Laurel Libby, a Republican from Auburn, Maine. “We haven’t heard from him.”

If Platner decides to fall on his sword for the party, July 13 is the deadline for him to withdraw and have a replacement, according to the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.

The deadline for the Maine Democratic Party to replace its nominee on the ballot is July 27, in accordance with a state law that says a party has until 5 p.m. on the fourth Monday in July of an election year to do so.

“The name of a candidate for an office on the general election ballot who withdraws for any reason 70 days or more before the general election must be removed from the ballot,” Maine law states.

A likely replacement candidate could be Nirav Shah, unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate, according to Steve Robinson, editor-in-chief of The Maine Wire.

Other rumored possible last-minute candidates even include actor and Lewiston, Maine native Patrick Dempsey.

‘Platner quitting,’ Washington Reporter

https://www.facebook.com/share/19ATFsqYGz

The Washington Reporter was founded two years ago by Garrett Ventry, Brian Colas, and Matthew Foldi as a center-right, Hill-focused outlet covering the intersection of public policy and business.

Ventry and Colas are former congressional chiefs of staff.

‘Platner Denies rape allegation,’ Maine Wire

https://www.themainewire.com/2026/07/maine-senate-candidate-platner-denies-sexual-assault-allegation-in-video-statement

# contentMap.en
Bernie Sanders’ Maine U.S. Senate Candidate of choice quitting under fire, sources say

By Ted Cohen

The embattled U.S. Senate hopeful from Maine who’s had major backing from Vermont’s senior senator will be withdrawing from the senate race, a published report said Monday.

“A well-placed source told the Washington Reporter that Graham Platner is poised to drop out,” the Washington Reporter said in what it’s calling an “exclusive.”

Platner, accused Monday of having raped a former “friend,” was an unknown name who became a leading candidate due in no small measure to the early support of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont.

Platner overwhelmingly won the Democrat primary in Maine last month but since his campaign began has been subject of one scandal after another.

In a related development, California congressman and key Platner supporter Ro Khanna called on Platner to quit.

Platner is denying claims by a woman who told Politico he sexually assaulted her.

But for the first time in facing allegations of criminal behavior, Platner on Monday publicly admitted he is “taking the time to reflect” and considering “the best path forward.”

Khanna, rumored to be looking at a 2028 presidential bid, threw in the towel Monday after weeks of standing by his fellow Democrat, who overwhelmingly won the party primary last month to take on five-term GOP U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” Khanna said. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”

The outlet claiming an exclusive on Platner leaving the race said it was told that Platner “taking time to reflect” is “the same thing as him dropping out.”

As a growing number of Democrat leaders were calling on Platner to resign, Sanders wasn’t among them, his absence conspicuous.

“I’m still waiting to hear from Bernie Sanders,” said Maine State Rep. Laurel Libby, a Republican from Auburn, Maine. “We haven’t heard from him.”

If Platner decides to fall on his sword for the party, July 13 is the deadline for him to withdraw and have a replacement, according to the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.

The deadline for the Maine Democratic Party to replace its nominee on the ballot is July 27, in accordance with a state law that says a party has until 5 p.m. on the fourth Monday in July of an election year to do so.

“The name of a candidate for an office on the general election ballot who withdraws for any reason 70 days or more before the general election must be removed from the ballot,” Maine law states.

A likely replacement candidate could be Nirav Shah, unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate, according to Steve Robinson, editor-in-chief of The Maine Wire.

Other rumored possible last-minute candidates even include actor and Lewiston, Maine native Patrick Dempsey.

‘Platner quitting,’ Washington Reporter

https://www.facebook.com/share/19ATFsqYGz

The Washington Reporter was founded two years ago by Garrett Ventry, Brian Colas, and Matthew Foldi as a center-right, Hill-focused outlet covering the intersection of public policy and business.

Ventry and Colas are former congressional chiefs of staff.

‘Platner Denies rape allegation,’ Maine Wire

https://www.themainewire.com/2026/07/maine-senate-candidate-platner-denies-sexual-assault-allegation-in-video-statement