Platner won't drop out unless he chooses his replacement: Report

Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner will reportedly not drop out of the contest unless the party allows him to choose his replacement, the New York Post reported, citing "a source familiar" with the issue.

Platner has until July 13 to drop out of the race to allow the state party to select a replacement. He has faced calls to step aside from many high-profile Democrats over a sexual assault allegation that went public on Monday.

He has thus far declined to step aside, but said he would ponder the "best path forward" for defeating Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in November.

Platner ran as a progressive outsider against Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, and decidedly won the party primary. Should he step down, speculation has abounded that the party may seek to replace him with Mills or one of the many failed gubernatorial candidates from that primary.

Among the possible replacements is former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, another progressive, whom some have speculated is the preferred alternative for left-wing stalwarts.

“This vibes to me like a play from Bernie Sanders to slide in Troy Jackson,” one source told the Post.

Meanwhile, Platner campaign advisor Morris Katz has urged him to remain in the contest.

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