Senate Scramble

Democratic nominee Graham Platner has dropped out of the Maine Senate race.

The Marine-turned-oyster-farmer was recently accused of sexually assaulting a former girlfriend in 2021. It’s the latest in a string of scandals prompting top Democrats to call for his exit. In an 11-minute video posted Wednesday (watch here), Platner called the allegations “false” but said he was forced to “suspend campaign operations” because of his party’s threats to withdraw funding and voter data, criticizing a “system built structurally to make sure that movements like ours cannot flourish.”

Now, the Maine Democratic Party will hold a convention to choose Platner’s replacement by July 27; the nominee will face five-term incumbent Senator Susan Collins (R-ME).

Maine is a must-win for Dems if they hope to gain control of the Senate from Republicans, who currently hold a three-seat majority.

Verse to consider, no matter who’s on the ballot: Jesus is our King, and Heaven is our Home. “‘My kingdom is not of this world,’ said Jesus. ‘If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’”
John 18:36 (CSB) (read full passage)