Maine Democratic Party warns Platner he has no role in replacement
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The Maine Democratic Party issued a stern warning to Graham Platner, who won the U.S. Senate primary, saying he and his campaign “had no role” in choosing his replacement.
Platner has not yet dropped out of the race and is still the state’s Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate despite mounting pressure from state and national Democrats after a woman who was previously with him accused him of sexual assault in a Politico report published Monday. Platner denied the allegations but said he was looking at the “best path forward” because he understood the political ramifications impeachment would have.
“The Maine Democratic Party is working around the clock to develop an open, inclusive, transparent and fair process to replace our nominee for the U.S. Senate,” state party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson, R-Maine, said in a video sent to he said.
“The integrity of this process is as important as the outcome, and we are committed to ensuring Democrats in our state can trust both,” Murphy-Anderson continued. “Unfortunately, Graham Platner’s team has contacted us repeatedly in an effort to determine what that process looks like. 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 or in determining what that process will look like.”
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Graham Platner won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate on June 9, celebrating his victory at the YMCA in Blue Hill, Maine, and just a month later the state’s Democratic Party is unseating him and having no say in who the nominee will be. (Fox News Digital’s Matt Symons)
Amid the fight with Maine party leaders, an official with the Platner campaign said it had “reached out to the party to understand what this process would look like” and that “at no point did the campaign try to ‘tip the scales.'”
Thousands of Maine residents voted and volunteered for Platner and should have played a role in the decision, the official added.
“Although Graham does not want to be part of the process, he wants to ensure that this decision is made by voters and volunteers, not the political establishment,” the statement said.
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His wife Amy Gertner has stood by her man Graham Platner in the face of numerous allegations of extramarital affairs and sexual abuse. (Fox News Digital’s Matt Symons)
Fox News Digital made multiple attempts to reach Platner’s campaign for further comment and also reached out to the Maine Democratic Party.
EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ATTACK ALLEGATION LOSTS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF IMPORTANT DEADLINE IN CRITICAL SENATE RACE
Graham Platner is so far defiant and refusing to leave unconditionally, saying Maine voters chose him as their candidate ‘not the party establishment’. (Fox News Digital’s Matt Symons)
Maine Democratic Party leaders on Monday called on Platner to stand down, saying “numerous women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner” and that the party “stands with women and survivors.” The party stated that no replacement process could begin unless Platner suspended his campaign, adding that “in no scenario is there a legal possibility of a candidate being selected by an individual campaign.”
“The sooner this process can begin, the more time we will have to lead an intentional and inclusive process for Mainers and Democrats,” the party said.
“It is up to us to decide who will represent our values and who will carry our flag,” the party said. “This responsibility requires judgment, leadership, and a willingness to take action when circumstances warrant.”
Timing is critical. According to the Maine Democratic Party, the deadline set by the secretary of state for a candidate to withdraw is July 13, while the deadline to submit a new candidate is July 27. If Platner doesn’t withdraw by the July 13 deadline, Democrats won’t have the option of naming a new nominee.
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Potential replacement names mentioned in media reports include former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Nirav Shah, former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The race is one of the most important opportunities for Democrats who want to defeat Collins, a five-term Republican Party incumbent, and regain control of the Senate.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
