Platner surveying supporters on path forward

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is asking his supporters about possible steps forward for his campaign and the Democratic Party in Maine as he faces calls to drop out from party elites.

Earlier this week, a woman came forward with claims that Platner sexually assaulted her, prompting a litany of calls for him to step aside. He has not yet done so, but said he would contemplate the "best path forward" to defeating Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

A volunteer survey from the campaign reviewed by Just the News states that "we firmly believe that the supporters and volunteers who built this movement deserve to have a real role in any nomination process."

"If the Democratic Party hopes to harness our movement, and avoid disillusioning the hundreds of thousands of supporters who came into the fray because of our movement's policies, it must consult the feedback and proposals of the people who built and sustained this," it went on.

The survey asks only for supporter's messages to Platner and the Democratic Party. It notably comes amid reports that the Platner campaign has sought to have a say in his replacement should he drop out.

Should he fail to do so by Monday, however, he will be locked in as the Democratic nominee under state law.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.