Susan Collins

Democrats face challenges in Maine's Senate race against Republican Susan Collins as their candidate Graham Platner was removed due to controversies including a rape allegation and a Nazi-themed tattoo. The Democratic Socialists of America's platform and recent primary wins by progressive candidates in New York and Colorado are highlighted as factors influencing the political landscape.

Maine's Senate race is a critical midterm contest as Democrats struggle to replace Graham Platner, a candidate they abandoned due to controversies, while attempting to unseat Sen. Susan Collins. Internal Democratic conflicts and the Democratic Socialists of America's platform are highlighted as factors complicating the party's strategy.

Graham Platner has exited the Maine Senate race following sexual assault allegations. Democratic candidate Dan Kleban is positioned as his replacement and discusses his case with CBS News.

Graham Platner withdrew from the Maine U.S. Senate race amid sexual assault allegations he denies, forcing Democrats to seek a new nominee by July 27. The party is considering a nominating convention to choose a replacement, with multiple candidates already announcing bids for the Senate nomination.

Graham Platner withdrew from the Maine Senate race, ending a campaign backed by progressive leaders. His withdrawal followed a sexual assault allegation he denied, prompting Maine Democrats to seek a new nominee before July 27.

Graham Platner submitted his withdrawal from Maine's U.S. Senate race, ending his campaign amid a sexual assault allegation he denies. Maine Democrats must now find a replacement candidate by July 27 to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race critical for Senate control.

Graham Platner, accused of rape, has formally withdrawn from his US Senate bid. He posted a message referencing 'Free Palestine' and did not name a successor to challenge Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.

Graham Platner withdrew from Maine’s U.S. Senate race, ending a campaign supported by progressive leaders like Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna. His withdrawal, following sexual assault allegations he denied, forces Democrats to find a new nominee by July 27 to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr criticized 'The View' for partisanship after co-host Sunny Hostin urged Democrats to flip the Senate during a discussion about Maine's Senate race. ABC argues the show should remain exempt from political equal opportunity rules, but Carr highlighted Hostin's advocacy for a Democratic Senate majority as contradictory to the exemption claim. Other co-hosts discussed Democratic handling of Maine's race and Graham Platner's controversies.

Democrats’ chances of taking control of the Senate have weakened due to recent developments in Maine and Michigan. The collapse of Graham Platner’s campaign in Maine has left Democrats without a clear opponent to challenge GOP incumbent Sen. Susan Collins ahead of the election.

Maine Democrats are seeking a new Senate candidate after Graham Platner withdrew from the race following new sexual assault allegations. The party has 18 days to select a replacement to challenge GOP Sen. Susan Collins.

Graham Platner's Senate exit has caused anxiety among Democrats, who are concerned about preparing a new campaign in under four months as Platner has not yet officially withdrawn. A potential race with Susan Collins is described as a 'bruising fight'.

Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee challenging Maine's Republican Sen. Susan Collins, withdrew from the race after a credible rape allegation emerged, which he denies. Maine Democrats will now hold a nominating convention to select a new candidate.

Graham Platner suspended his Senate campaign following a sexual assault allegation, prompting Democrats in Maine to seek replacements to challenge GOP Sen. Susan Collins.

Graham Platner withdrew from the Maine U.S. Senate race due to a sexual assault allegation, prompting Democrats to select a replacement candidate by July 27. Potential candidates include Troy Jackson, Nirav Shah, Dan Kleban, and Shenna Bellows.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced her Senate campaign to replace Graham Platner. Bellows, who lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary, joins other contenders for the Democratic nomination and faces scrutiny over her 2014 Senate loss to Susan Collins.

Maine Democrats must find a new candidate to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins after Graham Platner suspended his campaign due to a sexual assault accusation. Potential replacements include Gov. Janet Mills, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, and others, with a July 27 deadline to certify a nominee for the November ballot.

Graham Platner has withdrawn from the Maine Senate race following a sexual assault allegation, prompting several Democrats to vie for his replacement by July 27. Candidates include former state Senate president Troy Jackson, former CDC director Nirav Shah, Dan Kleban, and others. The replacement will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the general election.

Susan Collins' re-election campaign faces uncertainty after Graham Platner withdrew from the race, forcing Democrats to select a new nominee. Collins' team had leveraged Platner's controversies to counter his challenge, but his exit complicates their strategy. Democrats plan a nominating convention, while Republicans aim to associate the new nominee with Platner's allegations.

Graham Platner has suspended his Senate campaign. The Maine Democratic Party must now find a replacement to challenge Susan Collins.

Cheyenne Hunt, a lawyer and executive director of Reckoning Action, expressed relief over Graham Platner's withdrawal from the Maine Senate race and praised Democrats for prioritizing values. Hunt, who linked allegations against Platner and former Rep. Eric Swalwell, withdrew support from Platner after ex-partners described his behavior as 'reckless' and 'unsettling'.

Graham Platner's exit from Maine's Senate race removes a perceived advantage for Sen. Susan Collins' reelection bid, as his personal controversies were expected to help offset challenges in a blue state. Collins' team now faces the prospect of a more conventional general election with a Democratic candidate having a 'cleaner record.'

Graham Platner, a Senate nominee, ended his campaign after a rape allegation. The withdrawal affects Maine's Senate race against Susan Collins.

Graham Platner, the Maine Senate Democratic nominee, suspended his campaign following sexual assault allegations. He denied the claims but faces calls to withdraw, with the party planning a convention to select a new nominee.

Republicans criticized Graham Platner after he suspended his campaign, attempting to link Democrats to his failed candidacy. GOP figures accused Democrats of undermining Maine voters and expressed confidence in Susan Collins' re-election despite the state being won by Kamala Harris in 2024.

Dan Kleban, founder of Maine Beer Company, has re-entered the Maine Senate race after briefly running last year. He criticized GOP Sen. Susan Collins and the 'DC establishment,' positioning himself as a candidate to advance Graham Platner's movement, who suspended his campaign. Kleban also stated he would not take Platner's endorsement and called for a fair nominating process.

Graham Platner, an oyster farmer turned candidate, withdrew from Maine's Democratic primary after allegations of sexual assault he denies. Maine Democrats must select a replacement by 27 July to face Susan Collins, the Republican incumbent, in a pivotal Senate race.

Senate Democrats' campaign arm has re-entered the Maine Senate race and launched a fund to support the party's new nominee following Graham Platner's withdrawal. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Senate Majority PAC aim to defeat GOP Sen. Susan Collins and secure Senate control.

Troy Jackson, a progressive ally of Graham Platner, officially launched a Senate campaign with endorsements from Bernie Sanders and progressive support. A flash poll by Platner's campaign and POLITICO showed Jackson leading over Susan Collins, though he has distanced himself from Platner.

Graham Platner plans to withdraw from the Maine Senate race following a sexual assault claim, which has intensified divisions within the Democratic Party. He criticized Washington leaders for interfering in the candidate replacement process and denied the allegations as 'categorically false'.

Graham Platner, the Maine U.S. Senate candidate, withdrew from the race after a sexual assault accusation led to a loss of party support. The Maine Democratic Party must replace him by July 21, with Platner denying the allegations and attributing his exit to political structures rather than the accusations.

Graham Platner withdrew from Maine’s Senate race following a new sexual allegation, prompting Democrats to seek replacements to challenge GOP Sen. Susan Collins. Potential candidates include Troy Jackson, Shenna Bellows, and others, with the Maine Democratic Party required to select a successor by July 27.

Senate Majority PAC, Democrats’ top Senate super PAC, is committed to defeating GOP Sen. Susan Collins following Graham Platner’s suspension of his campaign. The PAC had previously threatened to cut resources if Platner remained on the ticket after allegations against him, which he denies, were reported by POLITICO.

Graham Platner withdrew from the Maine Senate race following allegations of sexual assault and other controversies, complicating Democrats' efforts to unseat Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Platner's resignation leaves the party with a challenge to find a replacement candidate while retaining his grassroots support.

Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine, announced his withdrawal from the race following a sexual assault allegation. The incident has sparked internal party conflict and threatens Democrats' efforts to regain control of the Senate.

Graham Platner, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Maine, announced his withdrawal from the race following a sexual assault allegation. His exit could disrupt Democratic efforts to regain Senate control and highlights internal party divisions.

Graham Platner plans to withdraw from the Maine Senate race following a sexual assault allegation. His exit may impact Democratic unity and the Senate race, with Jenny Racicot alleging non-consensual sex. Platner denied the claim but faced loss of support from leaders like Bernie Sanders.

Graham Platner ended his campaign to unseat GOP Sen. Susan Collins in Maine after facing a rape allegation, leading to the withdrawal of top Democrats' support. His campaign was marked by repeated scandals.

Graham Platner plans to withdraw from the Maine Senate race following a sexual assault allegation. He denied the claim but cited the need for an open replacement process, highlighting divisions within the Democratic Party.

Graham Platner, a Maine U.S. Senate candidate, withdrew from the race after a woman accused him of sexual assault in a Politico article. Platner denied the allegations but faced mounting pressure following the report and prior controversies, including a Nazi symbol tattoo and explicit text messages. A nonprofit group, Reckoning Action, supported the accuser, who cited a moral conflict in coming forward despite Platner's progressive platform.