Graham Platner is officially out of the Maine Senate race : NPR

Key Points:

• Graham Platner, Maine's Democratic Senate nominee, has officially withdrawn from the race following a rape accusation, which he denies; he filed the necessary paperwork two days after announcing his withdrawal.
• Platner cited financial challenges and loss of campaign resources as reasons for dropping out, emphasizing that his decision was not an admission of guilt but aimed at preserving the progressive movement to defeat Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
• Despite facing multiple scandals, Platner won the June 9 primary with a record number of votes for a Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, running on a progressive platform focused on affordability, universal health care, and reducing corporate influence in politics.
• The Maine Democratic Party has until July 27 to select a replacement nominee, with several candidates, including former state Sen. Troy Jackson and former CDC official Nirav Shah, already launching campaigns.
• Platner criticized the political establishment for forcing him out and urged that the replacement process reflect the desires of Maine voters who supported his progressive agenda, calling for real democracy and change.