Graham Platner officially withdraws from Maine Senate race

Democrat https://www.axios.com/2026/07/09/graham-platner-suspends-maine-senate-susan-collins" target="_blank">Graham Platner filed paperwork Friday to officially remove his name from the ballot, ending his tumultuous bid to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine.

Why it matters: Platner's exit ahead of the Monday deadline clears the way for Democrats to name a replacement candidate in a race that is critical to their effort to win a Senate majority in November.

• Platner's campaign https://x.com/grahamformaine/status/2075681947142004895" target="_blank">posted a copy of the letter it sent to Maine's Secretary of State withdrawing from the race to X on Friday afternoon.
• "On June 9, 156,084 Mainers voted for a new kind of politics.

  One that is representative of people down here in the real world — not billionaires, oligarchs or the political establishment," he wrote, adding, "In submitting this letter today, I seek to further the movement we have built together and the future we believe in."

• Platner posted the news in a staff Signal chat, according to a source on the message chain, adding, "I just submitted this to the division of elections.

  Thank you all so much, this was the best thing I have done in my life.

  I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

  I love you all."

Between the lines: Platner faced criticism from Democrats that he was dragging his feet after Axios https://www.axios.com/2026/07/09/graham-platner-exit-maine-senate-race-deadline" target="_blank">reported he told staff he was planning to file Monday, the drop-dead deadline.

• The self-described oyster farmer has sought to influence the process to choose his replacement.

  On Wednesday, he said in https://x.com/grahamformaine/status/2075009677495058687" target="_blank">a social media video that the protocol "needs to be driven not from back rooms, but by the will of the people."

• "My name may have been on the ballot, but that ballot line belongs to the people of Maine," Platner wrote.
• He concluded the letter with: "F*ck ICE. Free Palestine.

  Up the Hearts."

What's next: On Wednesday, shortly before Platner said he was suspending his campaign, the state party announced that it would hold a nominating convention to pick his replacement in the event of a vacancy. https://www.axios.com/2026/07/09/democrats-maine-senate-race-replace-platner" target="_self">Several candidates have already jumped into the race.

• The convention is expected to include roughly https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/09/graham-platner-maine-democrats-replacement-process-00991464" target="_blank">600 delegates, including 500 people chosen from county parties and 100 state committee members.
• Progressives worry that the process will be too insider-driven, while some moderates think it could empower activists on the left.
• Under https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/21-a/title21-Asec374-A.html" target="_blank">state law, Platner had until Monday at 5 p.m. to drop out of the race in time for the party to replace him with a new nominee.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with details from Platner's letter and other reporting.