Maine Democrats' Senate Nominee Drops Out After Party Pressure Over Rape Allegation

Graham Platner filed paperwork July 10 withdrawing from Maine's U.S. Senate race, two days after announcing his exit in a video. Democratic leaders and Senator Bernie Sanders urged him to quit following a rape accusation from a former romantic partner, which Platner denies. Platner had won the Democratic primary June 9 with 150,000 votes—the highest total in Maine history for a Democratic Senate candidate. Maine Democrats have until July 27 to select his replacement to face Republican Senator Susan Collins.