{"id":49163,"date":"2026-07-13T12:33:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T19:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=49163"},"modified":"2026-07-13T12:33:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T19:33:10","slug":"following-platner-allegations-progressives-warn-democratic-establishment-this-is-not-your-opening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/07\/13\/following-platner-allegations-progressives-warn-democratic-establishment-this-is-not-your-opening\/","title":{"rendered":"Following Platner Allegations, Progressives Warn Democratic Establishment: \u2018This Is Not Your Opening\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Democratic<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Democratic US Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks to voters at a town hall at the Elks Lodge 188 on June 7, 2026 in Portland, Maine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Photo by Laura Brett\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The campaign, said one organizer, \u201cwas never really about one candidate. It was about what Mainers ultimately wanted and deserved: a Senate seat that answers to them.\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Julia Conley<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jul 07, 2026 (CommonDreams.org)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As calls mounted<\/a> on Monday evening for US Senate<\/a> candidate Graham Platner to drop out of the race in Maine<\/a> following sexual assault allegations<\/a>, progressive organizers emphasized that primary voters in the state have made clear their demand for a candidate who prioritizes the needs of working people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should Platner be replaced as the Democratic nominee, said<\/a> the political action organization Our Revolution, the new candidate must be one \u201cwho has actually lived the fight Graham Platner ran on: a record with working people, with unions<\/a>, against corporate money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RECOMMENDED…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Graham<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Now the Ball Is in the Court of the Democratic Establishment,\u2019 Platner Says as He Suspends Campaign<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As Platner Officially Ends Senate Bid, Volunteers Warn Replacement Must Back Same Agenda<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo the Democratic establishment: This is not your opening,\u201d said Joseph Geevarghese, the group\u2019s executive director. \u201cMainers did not vote by an overwhelming margin against Janet Mills and the [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]’s handpicked pick just to be handed another status-quo candidate anyway. They deserve what they voted for… The movement will settle for nothing less, because that is what Mainers deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/x.com\/OurRevolution\/status\/2074297302022275504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2074297302022275504%7Ctwgr%5Eb181f0ea1d6b84947f2329d7f7bc4c488c35191b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fplatner-election<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Platner has not said whether he will end his campaign, during which he has traveled across the state and energized voters from across the political spectrum with his working-class-focused platform\u2014one that calls for Medicare for All<\/a>, a billionaire\u2019s minimum tax, a stop to \u201cbillionaires buying elections\u201d through a repeal of Citizens United<\/a><\/em>, and an end to US military<\/a> aid for Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a video he posted on social media<\/a> Monday in response to the allegations, which came from a woman he dated from 2019-21, he denied that he had committed sexual assault<\/a> but said he was \u201cmindful of the political reality\u201d and that his campaign is \u201ctaking the time to reflect on the best path forward\u201d in order to defeat five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins<\/a>. The Maine Senate race is crucial as Democrats aim to win back control of the US Senate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An aide for Platner told<\/a> The New York Times<\/a> Monday evening that if he were to step aside, \u201cit would only be with a guarantee of being replaced by a candidate who he believes is true to the values and vision and policy agenda of the campaign that Maine voted for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Platner won the Democratic primary in June by nearly 53 points. His opponent, Gov. Janet Mills, was on the ballot despite having suspended her campaign in April, citing a lack of funds. Ahead of the primary, Platner had faced other controversies, including one regarding comments he made on Reddit several years ago; a skull-and-crossbones tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol\u2014a connection he said he was not aware of; and allegations of physical aggression from a GOP-affiliated ex-girlfriend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geevarghese said Monday that \u201ceveryone deserves a fair and open process, and Graham Platner is entitled to due process like anyone else. But the allegations against him are credible, and at this point they are too serious to treat as a distraction from the campaign or the issues. Sexual violence is a red line. We are withdrawing our endorsement and calling on him to withdraw from this race.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He emphasized that the campaign \u201cengaged thousands of working people in Maine around a simple idea: that Maine\u2019s Senate seat should belong to its people, not corporate money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was never really about one candidate,\u201d Geevarghese said. \u201cIt was about what Mainers ultimately wanted and deserved: a Senate seat that answers to them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sentiment was echoed by the Maine Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which had not previously endorsed Platner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe power of the Platner campaign was undeniable, but that power does not come from a candidate; it comes from tens of thousands of Mainers who were inspired by his campaign\u2019s platform and urgency,\u201d said<\/a> Maine DSA. \u201cOver the last year, everyday people who had long ago written off electoral politics have shown up and worked to build power on a scale Maine has never seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaine Democratic Party<\/a> leadership has a choice: Nominate an establishment candidate who offers excuses, not answers, and ultimately loses to Susan Collins; or offer a candidate who harnesses the still-growing momentum, follows the platform that is so energizing to voters in Maine and across the country, and takes our state back for the many, not the money,\u201d said the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state\u2019s Democratic candidate for governor, former state legislator Hannah Pingree, also said<\/a> that Platner had \u201ctapped into something real\u2014voters hungry for change showed up with real passion and energy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat energy doesn\u2019t have to go away,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cIt needs a new candidate to carry it forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under state law, Platner could be replaced on the ballot if he withdraws by July 13. The state Democratic Party would have until July 27 to name a replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to<\/a> the Times, party officials in the state \u201chave discussed possible plans to replace Mr. Platner on the ballot, with options including a pop-up convention on the weekend of July 25 to choose a nominee, or holding a statewide caucus to effectively redo the party\u2019s primary election.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have reportedly \u201cruled out having the state party\u2019s committee, which includes about 100 members, choose the nominee.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potential replacements who have been named include former Democratic gubernatorial candidates such as Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former state Senate President Troy Jackson, who campaigned with Platner and was also endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-Vt.) when he ran for governor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jackson told<\/a> Bangor Daily News reporter Benjamin Kail late Monday that potentially having to replace Platner on the ballot was \u201csomething I never considered, but if Graham\u2019s stepping away, I am very, very interested and think I\u2019m the best person to replace him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u00a0said<\/a>\u00a0he \u201creceived dozens of calls and messages of support\u201d after the news broke Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julia Conley<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julia Conley is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full Bio ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Democratic US Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks to voters at a town hall at the Elks Lodge 188 on June 7, 2026 in Portland, Maine.  (Photo by Laura Brett\/Getty Images) The campaign, said one organizer, \u201cwas never really about one candidate. It was about what Mainers ultimately wanted and deserved:… Continue reading → <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49163"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49163"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49164,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49163\/revisions\/49164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}