Democrat Graham Platner has withdrawn his bid for the Senate race in the US state of Maine amid allegations of sexual assault by a former partner as high-stakes November midterms draw closer.The scandal has rocked the Maine Senate race, which Democrats have honed in on as a necessary win to gain new seats and upset the Republican Senate majority.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThe Maine race, which is proving to be one of the most competitive and controversial, has also exposed widening rifts between establishment Democrats on the one hand, and the party’s progressive faction.Currently, Republicans have a 53-47 majority over the Democrats in the Senate. Democrats are eager to field a candidate who can defeat Republican Senator Susan Collins, who has already served five terms. Collins is the only Republican holding a seat from a state that voted for Democratic candidate, former Vice President Kamala Harris, in the 2024 presidential elections.Platner has denied the accusations against him and says his exit from the race does not mean an admission of guilt.Here’s what we know about Platner’s withdrawal and what it might mean for Democrats: Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for US Senate, and Senator Bernie Sanders, left, join hands at an event in Orono, Maine, May 24, 2026 [Robert F Bukaty/AP]Who is Graham Platner?Platner, 41, is a military veteran, oyster farmer and newcomer politician who gained national attention only a few months ago.He entered the Senate race last August as an anti-establishment outsider. A campaign …
