Succession Fight For Maine Senate Spot 07/08 06:08

   

   PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Democratic nominee Graham Platner hasn't resigned 
from the Maine U.S. Senate race following an allegation of sexual assault. But 
the succession battle to take his place was already underway Tuesday.

   The allegation reported Monday prompted a chorus of calls for Platner to 
depart the high-stakes race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, which could 
decide party control of the Senate. Platner's long-time backer, Sen. Bernie 
Sanders, "recommended that he step aside." Then, Tuesday evening, The 
Washington Post reported that an ex-girlfriend of Platner's had accused him of 
removing condoms during sex without her consent.

   Platner, who has denied all the allegations, has been mum on whether he'll 
step aside. And the Maine Democratic Party, charged with creating a process to 
pick his replacement, hasn't publicly announced their plans.

   On Tuesday night, Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson released a video 
saying the party is developing an "open, inclusive, transparent and fair" 
process but won't disclose details until Platner withdraws. Platner's team has 
repeatedly tried to "put their thumb on the scale," she said.

   "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, nor in 
determining what this process looks like," she said.

   An official for the Platner campaign responded that it "has reached out to 
the party to try and understand what this process would look like" and "at no 
point has the campaign tried to 'put its finger on the scale.'" The official 
added that thousands of Maine residents voted and volunteered for Platner and 
they should play a role in the decision.

   "While Graham wouldn't want to be a part of the process, he would want to 
make sure the voters and volunteers make this decision -- not the political 
establishment," the statement said.

   So far, the succession battle has played out in a murky power vacuum. A 
growing number of candidates are teasing their entry into the race as a fight 
shapes up between the progressive wing and the establishment camp of the 
Democratic Party.

   Platner became a populist hero among the party's left flank, pulling far 
ahead of an establishment-backed candidate, Gov. Janet Mills, in the primary. 
Now, progressive groups fear that political ground could be lost.

   "To the Democratic establishment: This is not your opening," said Joseph 
Geevarghese, who leads Our Revolution. The organization founded by Sanders 
backed and then withdrew its endorsement of Platner after the sexual assault 
allegation. The group said Tuesday that it was "rallying behind" another 
progressive contender, Troy Jackson, who announced he's "exploring" a candidacy.

   The sexual assault allegation against Platner

   In the allegation published Monday by Politico, a woman whom Platner 
previously dated said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to 
stop. It is the latest in a string of controversies the first-time candidate 
had weathered, but the seriousness of the assault claim was too far for many of 
his supporters in the Democratic Party.

   Jenny Racicot, who lives in Maine, told Politico that Platner entered her 
home in 2021 while drunk and assaulted her. Racicot said she had been in an 
on-and-off relationship with Platner, but she cut off contact with him after 
that night and told him the incident wasn't consensual. She said in a CNN 
interview on Monday evening that she opted not to fight back for fear of 
Platner, a former Marine, becoming more violent.

   Replacing Platner may further divide Democrats

   The pressure for Platner to withdraw from the Senate race has only increased 
given the short deadlines Maine law allows for replacing general election 
candidates. There is no mechanism for Democrats to remove Platner from the 
ballot, and the deadline to withdraw is 5 p.m. July 13. State law gives the 
authority to choose a replacement to the state party. Any replacement candidate 
must be named by July 27.

   The lack of communication from Platner and the state's Democratic Party has 
contributed to some confusion about what comes next as candidates tentatively 
toss their hats in the ring.

   Some are arguing that the next Democrat should echo Platner's progressive 
messaging, pointing to his success at rallying voters across the state. Others 
cautioned that having ties to Platner will only doom an already uphill campaign 
against Collins. Many are pushing for an open process even with limited time.

   "No one's enjoying this experience, and it seems like the consensus step 
forward should be having a fair and open process that everybody feels is 
legitimate," said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign 
Committee, a political action committee that backed Platner but now calls for 
him to suspend his campaign.

   One possible contender, Nirav Shah, the former director of Maine's Center 
for Disease Control and Prevention, said Tuesday he was "evaluating" whether to 
join the race. Shah said he's been in contact with the Maine Democratic Party 
about ensuring a possible replacement process is based on "openness, 
transparency and robustness."

   "Every single day that we don't have a nominee, and a process and a clear 
pathway for the nominee, is another day that we're letting Sen. Collins 
continue to get her message out," Shah told The Associated Press. "As of right 
now, it's not clear what the process will be."

   Shah, who came in second in this year's Maine Democratic gubernatorial 
primary, added, "I want to give the party grace, because we're building this 
plane as we're flying it."

   Maine's governor, Mills, who sought the Democratic Senate nomination but 
dropped out before the June 9 primary, could be considered as another 
contender. Mills was supported by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer but 
abandoned her campaign, saying she couldn't raise the money needed to compete.

   Another possible replacement is Jackson, Maine's former state Senate 
President, who unsuccessfully ran to be the Democratic gubernatorial nominee 
earlier this year with the backing of Platner and Sanders. Jackson filed 
paperwork with the Federal Election Commission Tuesday to launch a Senate 
exploratory committee.

   "Remember: Progressives overwhelmingly won the primary. A progressive MUST 
be on the ballot," Our Revolution said in a fundraising email, which described 
Jackson as a logger and union leader who helmed Sanders' past presidential 
efforts in Maine.

   Jordan Wood, a former U.S. Senate candidate who then switched to 
unsuccessfully run for Maine's 2nd District, posted Tuesday that he was 
"continuing conversations" with voters about joining the race.

   Other names circulating include Shenna Bellows, the current Maine Secretary 
of State; Dan Kleban, founder of Maine Beer Co.; and Hannah Pingree, currently 
Maine's Democratic gubernatorial nominee.

   Bellows said in a statement she will "seriously consider entering this race."

   A Platner voter is 'heartbroken'

   Joanie Monteith, a passionate supporter from the southern Maine town of York 
who organized a trivia night about Platner in March, said through tears Tuesday 
that she was devastated by the news. She was waiting for another public 
statement from Platner before making a decision about whether she could keep 
supporting him.

   "I'm numb, and I'm waiting for what Graham has to say," she said. "I'm 
trying not to be a part of this public trial. And I'm heartbroken. And I'm 
heartbroken for him and his wife."

   She added that she believes the allegations are serious.

   "I'm not going to blame a victim. Because if this is true I feel very bad 
for the woman," she said.

   Another Maine voter, Lee Holman, said she wants Platner to stay in the race.

   "I feel like the people of Maine have spoken," the Democrat said. "If they 
wanted Janet Mills, they could have voted for her."

   She said the allegation against Platner may be legitimate, but she questions 
the timing. Democrats, she added, can be too quick to "throw the baby out with 
the bathwater" by calling on politicians facing allegations to resign.

   "Every time we think we have a chance to snatch our democracy back, 
something gets in the way," she said.