The 2026 Maine Senate race: Platner's exit and Troy Jackson's nomination

Gone quiet · last story Sep 2

What this arc covers

Graham Platner's exit as Maine's Democratic Senate nominee after a sexual assault allegation in July 2026, the reaction inside his party, the contest to replace him, and the Maine Democratic convention's choice of Troy Jackson as the new nominee.

Maine

Earliest story we hold Jul 6, 2026 · 39 stories · 201 independent sources (counted once each) · 58 days

Part ofGraham PlatnerMaineUnited States SenateDemocratic PartySusan CollinsBernie SandersScott JenningsJohn Fetterman

Part of The 2026 Maine Senate race

  1. Troy Jackson vs. Susan CollinsNov 14, 2024 – Sep 27, 2026
  2. Graham Platner's Democratic primary winSep 3, 2025 – Jun 9, 2026
  3. Platner's exit and Troy Jackson's nominationThis arcJul 6 – Sep 2, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Sep 2– 3Graham Platner no longer scheduled to speak at Labor Day rally11 articles · 10 independent sources
2 left, 1 center, 1 right
Aug 13Graham Platner to speak at labor rally, one of his first public events since ending Maine campaign17 articles · 17 independent sources
3 left, 2 center, 2 right
Jul 26– 27Sanders says he does not regret supporting Graham Platner in Maine Senate race6 articles · 6 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 5 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jul 6 – 9Maine Democrats plan convention to replace Platner: What to know about Senate race185 articles · 69 independent sources
    1. Jul 6Democrats begin pulling Graham Platner endorsements after Maine candidate faces sexual assault allegation
    2. Jul 7Only center coverage:Maine Democrats have until July 13 to replace Graham Platner on the ballot if he drops out
    3. Jul 8Breaking down the Graham Platner allegations, pressure from Democrats
  2. Jul 7 – 13Platner formally withdraws from Maine Senate race and Democrats announce process to name new nominee484 articles · 112 independent sources
    1. Jul 7Maine Democrats lining up to replace Platner in Senate race
    2. Jul 8Who will replace Graham Platner on the Maine ballot? These Democrats are raising their hand
    3. Jul 10Graham Platner files paperwork to officially withdraw from US Senate race
  3. Jul 8 – 9Patrick Dempsey shuts down Maine Senate buzz as Democrats weigh a replacement68 articles · 27 independent sources
  4. Jul 8 – 10Platner, accused of sexual assault, suspends Senate campaign44 articles · 34 independent sources
  5. Jul 10 – 17Maine Democrats running to replace Platner as Senate nominee scramble to woo his voters37 articles · 36 independent sources
    1. Jul 10Maine Senate Candidates Claim They’re Just Like Platner — But Entirely Different
    2. Jul 15Platner’s exit from Maine’s Senate race leaves Democrats in a deep financial hole
    3. Jul 16Maine Democrats’ first debate laid bare their difficulty in replacing Graham Platner
  6. Jul 14 – 21Troy Jackson surges as Maine Democrats’ likely Senate pick after Graham Platner’s exit46 articles · 30 independent sources
    1. Jul 14Maine Democrats in sprint to replace Platner on Senate ballot
    2. Jul 17Maine Democratic Senate candidates discuss which of Platner's ideas they would use
    3. Jul 20Troy Jackson gains momentum to replace Platner as Democrats' Senate candidate in Maine
    4. Jul 20Troy Jackson surges as Maine Democrats’ likely Senate pick after Graham Platner's exit
  7. Jul 25 – 26Democrats in Maine select party nominee to replace Graham Platner in US Senate race61 articles · 21 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Jul 6Jul 20Jul 27Aug 10Aug 17Aug 31

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Jul 6, 20265162581048
Jul 13, 20267151384
Jul 20, 2026151815172
Jul 27, 20262036
Aug 10, 202632217
Aug 31, 202621111

29% left · 38% center · 33% right of 201 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 39 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. July 2026

    Jul 6– 9How Are Democrats Choosing Graham Platner's Replacement—and Who Could It Be?18 articles · 13 independent sources
    7 left, 2 center, 3 right
  2. Jul 6– 9Maine Democrats plan convention to replace Platner: What to know about Senate race185 articles · 69 independent sources
    20 left, 21 center, 24 right
  3. Jul 6– 7Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner faces calls to withdraw after sexual assault allegation8 articles · 3 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  4. Jul 6– 9Democrats’ narrow path to Senate majority gets rockier as Platner faces sexual assault allegation22 articles · 18 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 6 right
  5. Jul 6– 10Good Riddance to Graham Platner22 articles · 15 independent sources
    5 left, 3 center, 7 right
  6. Jul 7Sanders-founded organization backs Troy Jackson for Maine Senate4 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  7. Jul 7– 11John Fetterman Says Bernie Sanders Should Apologize for Graham Platner12 articles · 9 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 7 right
  8. Jul 7– 13Platner formally withdraws from Maine Senate race and Democrats announce process to name new nominee484 articles · 112 independent sources
    25 left, 43 center, 33 right
  9. Jul 7– 10Troy Jackson announces run for US Senate after Platner suspends campaign9 articles · 7 independent sources
    3 left, 3 center, 1 right
  10. Jul 7– 9If Graham Platner drops out of the race for US Senate, here's what happens next44 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 0 right
  11. Jul 7– 8Graham Platner’s ex-girlfriend says he removed condoms without consent13 articles · 12 independent sources
    1 left, 4 center, 6 right
  12. Jul 7– 8Sunny Hostin Walks Back Support for Platner, Craves Victory for Dems6 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 4 right
  13. Jul 7– 8With control of US Senate in play, national Dems rush to dump Maine’s Platner23 articles · 3 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 2 right
  14. Jul 8– 9Trump on Platner allegations: ‘A lot of people say big falsehoods’13 articles · 11 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 4 right
  15. Jul 8– 13Graham Platner has formally withdrawn from the Maine Senate race. Here’s what we know about the process to replace him21 articles · 20 independent sources
    5 left, 1 center, 7 right
  16. Jul 8Platner may be finished, but voters' hunger for change and willingness to take risks will remain14 articles · 11 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 1 right
  17. Jul 8Graham Platner suspends campaign amid scandal, sparking Dem election scramble8 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  18. Jul 8– 9Patrick Dempsey shuts down Maine Senate buzz as Democrats weigh a replacement68 articles · 27 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 3 right
  19. Jul 8– 10Democrats face imminent deadline to replace Platner in Senate race14 articles · 12 independent sources
    3 left, 2 center, 7 right
  20. Jul 8– 11Platner ran polling on possible replacements before dropping out. Here’s how they stacked up against Collins6 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 3 right
  21. Jul 8– 10Platner, accused of sexual assault, suspends Senate campaign44 articles · 34 independent sources
    13 left, 8 center, 11 right
  22. Jul 8– 9Maine brewery owner throws hat in ring to replace Platner9 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  23. Jul 8Maine Democratic Party says it will hold a convention to replace Graham Platner if he drops out of the US Senate race5 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 0 center, 0 right
  24. Jul 9Scandal-plagued Graham Platner drops Maine Senate bid5 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  25. Jul 9Inside the insurgent rise and rapid downfall of Graham Platner’s campaign3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  26. Jul 10– 12Ro Khanna says he regrets endorsing Graham Platner in Maine Senate race4 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 3 right
  27. Jul 10– 17Maine Democrats running to replace Platner as Senate nominee scramble to woo his voters37 articles · 36 independent sources
    6 left, 6 center, 6 right
  28. Jul 13– 15Google News and Apple News suppressed Platner stories for months: Study12 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 6 right
  29. Jul 14– 21Troy Jackson surges as Maine Democrats’ likely Senate pick after Graham Platner’s exit46 articles · 30 independent sources
    7 left, 7 center, 7 right
  30. Jul 15– 18Maine Democrats gather to select delegates who will chose new US Senate nominee6 articles · 3 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 0 right
  31. Jul 19– 24How Troy Jackson went from an anti-abortion Republican to the Democrats’ hope for defeating Susan Collins28 articles · 17 independent sources
    4 left, 5 center, 2 right
  32. Jul 19Shenna Bellows drops out of Maine Senate race8 articles · 7 independent sources
    3 left, 4 center, 0 right
  33. Jul 25Maine Democrats pick Troy Jackson to replace Platner as Senate nominee16 articles · 14 independent sources
    3 left, 4 center, 6 right
  34. Jul 25– 27Maine Democratic delegates choose Troy Jackson as new nominee to face US Sen. Susan Collins33 articles · 26 independent sources
    9 left, 3 center, 4 right
  35. Jul 25– 26Maine Democrats choose new nominee to face Susan Collins10 articles · 10 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 0 right
  36. Jul 25– 26Democrats in Maine select party nominee to replace Graham Platner in US Senate race61 articles · 21 independent sources
    1 left, 6 center, 3 right
  37. Jul 26– 27Sanders says he does not regret supporting Graham Platner in Maine Senate race6 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 5 right

  38. August 2026

    Aug 13Graham Platner to speak at labor rally, one of his first public events since ending Maine campaign17 articles · 17 independent sources
    3 left, 2 center, 2 right

  39. September 2026

    Sep 2– 3Graham Platner no longer scheduled to speak at Labor Day rally11 articles · 10 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 1 right