Maine Democrats plan convention to replace scandal-hit Platner – US politics live | Democrats
Maine Democrats plan to hold convention to replace scandal-hit Graham Platner
Hello, welcome to the live blog of US politics.
The Maine Democratic Party voted to hold a convention after Senate-elect Graham Platner withdrew from the race following sexual assault accusations.
Platner announced his decision in 11 minutes video On social media Wednesday evening, he angrily accused the Democratic establishment and corporate media of “using these allegations to take away everything we need to run a campaign” and “acting like judge, jury and executioner.”
In the video, Platner fiercely defended his claim that the accusations were “not true at all” and claimed that the accusations were directed “by major forces working against him.” [him] personally”.
Now, the Maine Democratic Party, which by law is responsible for nominating the new nominee, has said it will proceed with holding a nominating convention to choose a new nominee. Potential contestants have already begun to publicly express their interest, with a tight deadline of July 27.
A number of Democrats have already expressed interest in the nomination. Former state senator Troy Jackson, who ran for governor earlier this year, announced his candidacy shortly after Platner’s campaign was suspended; Maine Beer Company owner Dan Kleban also participated in the Senate primary before the vote.
Other possible candidates include Shenna Bellows, Maine secretary of state; Nirav Shah, former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director; state legislator Valli Geiger; and former congressional aide Jordan Wood.
“There is unprecedented energy and enthusiasm among Maine Democrats, driven in part by the many devoted volunteers and supporters inspired by Graham Platner’s campaign,” party officials said in a statement less than an hour before Platner suspended his campaign.
“We look forward to coming together and using that energy around our new candidate as we work to defeat Susan Collins in November.”
Read the full story here:
In other developments:
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Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would ask the US supreme court to reconsider the issue. his judgment He said the 14th amendment to the US constitution guarantees his birthright as a citizen in light of shocking new evidence: A hospital in Texas is advertising its services to expectant mothers in Mexico with a pair of billboards. “All over our Southern Border and Mexico there are signs and billboards advertising BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP with ‘Deliveries Start at $4000,’ the president wrote on the social media platform in what appears to be a wild exaggeration of Fox News’ report on just two billboards.
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Donald Trump flew from Türkiye to England on Wednesday with an old Air Force One plane, instead of the new plane gifted to Qatar that he used to go to the NATO summit in Ankara; This unexpected change of plans has raised questions about security fears. Trump then boarded the new plane at Mildenhall air force base in the United Kingdom for the return trip to Washington.
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Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House’s World Cup working group, argued that Donald Trump lobbied FIFA to lift the penalty received by American player Folarin Balogun in the match against Belgium on Monday. US president blames Brazilian referee Father RaphaelThe one who showed Balogun a red card in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina seemed “a bit suspicious when you look at his background”.
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U.S. stock markets fell on Wednesday as the United States continued its attacks on Iran and the Fed flagged concerns that it could lead to higher interest rates. Donald Trump’s statement regarding the Iran-US ceasefire at the NATO summit in Ankara Oil prices rose sharply on Wednesday. Global benchmark Brent crude oil increased by more than 5 percent, reaching $80 per barrel.
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A Manhattan federal court judge on Wednesday ordered the release of more than $5 million in debt owed to Donald Trump’s E Jean Carroll following a successful sexual misconduct and defamation lawsuit filed against him in 2023. Less than an hour after the judge made his decision, Trump filed paperwork saying he objected to the decision.
important events
Sophie Sullivan and Pablo Iglesias Maurer
The French men’s national football team, whose star Kylian Mbappé is one of the world’s most outspoken athletes against far-right politicians, uses a charter plane company that has been at the center of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.
Images and flight tracking data of the team posted on social media show that the French team has been using Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) for at least some time fly local flights Between World Cup matches and base camp in Boston. The same airline charter company operated more than half of ICE’s departure flights in 2024 and 2025.
A 2025 Guardian investigation into the Trump administration’s deportation program, which closely examined leaked GlobalX data, revealed the extent to which the company served as a means of transporting thousands of detainees – domestically and abroad – to locations far from their families, communities and legal counsel without notice; This led to what experts call a violation of constitutional due process rights. The company also flew detainees to Cecot, El Salvador, among other destinations. famous mega prison. Many people on board described being kept shackled at the hands and feet, or not informed of where their plane was going.
GlobalX did not respond to requests for comment. Representatives of the French national team did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Maine contenders: Democrats who could replace Graham Platner
Joseph Gideon
A month after winning Maine’s Democratic primary, oyster farmer-turned-insurgent candidate Graham Platner suspended his campaign after an ex-girlfriend accused him of seriously sexually assaulting her in 2021; he dismisses this claim as “absolutely false”.
Now that Platner has said he will file paperwork to withdraw from the race, Maine Democrats have until July 27 to choose a replacement to take on Republican incumbent Susan Collins in a race seen as crucial for control of the Senate. The state party said it will hold a nominating meeting to choose a new candidate on Wednesday.
But one complicating factor was that Platner received more primary votes than any Democratic Senate candidate in state history, empowering a coalition that Gov. Janet Mills, the establishment favorite, could never capture. Some argue that his successor should carry this energy forward, while others argue that the new candidate must be independent of him or risk being seen as his protégé.
Whoever ends up in this position will have little time to prepare for a general election against Collins, a five-term incumbent. The options so far are:
Maine Democrats plan to hold convention to replace scandal-hit Graham Platner
Hello, welcome to the live blog of US politics.
The Maine Democratic Party voted to hold a convention after Senate-elect Graham Platner withdrew from the race following sexual assault accusations.
Platner announced his decision in 11 minutes video On social media Wednesday evening, he angrily accused the Democratic establishment and corporate media of “using these allegations to take away everything we need to run a campaign” and “acting like judge, jury and executioner.”
In the video, Platner fiercely defended his claim that the accusations were “not true at all” and claimed that the accusations were directed “by major forces working against him.” [him] personally”.
Now, the Maine Democratic Party, which by law is responsible for nominating the new nominee, has said it will proceed with holding a nominating convention to choose a new nominee. Potential contestants have already begun to publicly express their interest, with a tight deadline of July 27.
A number of Democrats have already expressed interest in the nomination. Former state senator Troy Jackson, who ran for governor earlier this year, announced his candidacy shortly after Platner’s campaign was suspended; Maine Beer Company owner Dan Kleban also participated in the Senate primary before the vote.
Other possible candidates include Shenna Bellows, Maine secretary of state; Nirav Shah, former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director; state legislator Valli Geiger; and former congressional aide Jordan Wood.
“There is unprecedented energy and enthusiasm among Maine Democrats, driven in part by the many devoted volunteers and supporters inspired by Graham Platner’s campaign,” party officials said in a statement less than an hour before Platner suspended his campaign.
“We look forward to coming together and using that energy around our new candidate as we work to defeat Susan Collins in November.”
Read the full story here:
In other developments:
-
Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would ask the US supreme court to reconsider the issue. his judgment He said the 14th amendment to the US constitution guarantees his birthright as a citizen in light of shocking new evidence: A hospital in Texas is advertising its services to expectant mothers in Mexico with a pair of billboards. “All over our Southern Border and Mexico there are signs and billboards advertising BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP with ‘Deliveries Start at $4000,’ the president wrote on the social media platform in what appears to be a wild exaggeration of Fox News’ report on just two billboards.
-
Donald Trump flew from Türkiye to England on Wednesday with an old Air Force One plane, instead of the new plane gifted to Qatar that he used to go to the NATO summit in Ankara; This unexpected change of plans has raised questions about security fears. Trump then boarded the new plane at Mildenhall air force base in the United Kingdom for the return trip to Washington.
-
Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House’s World Cup working group, argued that Donald Trump lobbied FIFA to lift the penalty received by American player Folarin Balogun in the match against Belgium on Monday. US president blames Brazilian referee Father RaphaelThe one who showed Balogun a red card in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina seemed “a bit suspicious when you look at his background”.
-
U.S. stock markets fell on Wednesday as the United States continued its attacks on Iran and the Fed flagged concerns that it could lead to higher interest rates. Donald Trump’s statement regarding the Iran-US ceasefire at the NATO summit in Ankara Oil prices rose sharply on Wednesday. Global benchmark Brent crude oil increased by more than 5 percent, reaching $80 per barrel.
-
A Manhattan federal court judge on Wednesday ordered the release of more than $5 million in debt owed to Donald Trump’s E Jean Carroll following a successful sexual misconduct and defamation lawsuit filed against him in 2023. Less than an hour after the judge made his decision, Trump filed paperwork saying he objected to the decision.
