{"id":2625843,"date":"2026-07-06T20:42:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T00:42:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/platner-is-about-to-get-the-biden-treatment-from-democrats\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T20:46:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T00:46:11","slug":"platner-is-about-to-get-the-biden-treatment-from-democrats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/platner-is-about-to-get-the-biden-treatment-from-democrats\/","title":{"rendered":"Platner is about to get the Biden treatment from Democrats"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fplatner-is-about-to-get-the-biden-treatment-from-democrats%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2625843&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democrats are rapidly abandoning Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner following new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-one-in-six-biden-voters-would-have-changed-their-vote-if-they-had-known-about-scandals-suppressed-by-media\/\" title=\"Poll: One In Six Biden Voters Would Have Changed Their Vote If They Had Known About Scandals Suppressed By Media\">sexual assault allegations<\/a>, which appear too be part of a coordinated effort to have him withdraw by the July 13 ballot deadline. The party previously switched candidates after Biden&#8217;s poor debate performance raised concerns about primary results, but the current situation requires quicker action. Key figures like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and especially Rep. Ro Khanna have distanced themselves from Platner, with Khanna reaffirming that sexual assault is a red line and calling for his withdrawal.Even though Platner denies the allegations and considers the best path forward, he is under significant pressure as the window to replace him narrows, and the Democrat-led effort to avoid losing the Maine seat becomes more urgent. The race remains close, with polling showing Susan Collins slightly ahead, and a loss could threaten Democrats\u2019 Senate control. The party faces internal tension over whether to support a progressive option like Troy Jackson, and the situation underscores the challenge of balancing primary voter choices with strategic party considerations ahead of the upcoming elections.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats are <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4637999\/khanna-gallego-pull-platner-endorsements\/\">abandoning<\/a> Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner in droves after <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/06\/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737\">detailed new sexual assault allegations<\/a> in what looks like a coordinated effort to get him to drop out by July 13, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4588575\/how-democrats-could-replace-platner-after-primary\/\">deadline for replacing him on the ballot<\/a> under state law.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The party managed to force a similar switch after then-President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\">Joe Biden<\/a> debated <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> (before Biden was able to secure renomination at the Democratic National Convention) and turned in such a disastrous performance that Democrats were ready to disregard the primary results.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4638055\/platner-bombshell-democrats-maine-ballot-deadline\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Platner bombshell leaves Democrats scrambling days before Maine ballot deadline<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4637999\/khanna-gallego-pull-platner-endorsements\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ro Khanna and Ruben Gallego pull Platner endorsements after sexual assault allegations<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4637858\/sexual-assault-allegation-fractures-platner-faithful-online-following\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>REVEALED: Sexual assault allegation fractures Graham Platner\u2019s faithful online following<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maine Democrats called on Platner to withdraw from the Senate race in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MaineDems\/status\/2074249756449140867\">statement<\/a> on Monday night, saying his departure was necessary to \u201crefocus\u201d the race on \u201cthe struggle against a government\u201d they claimed Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME) supports.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), chairwoman of the Senate Democrats\u2019 campaign arm, have pledged to starve Platner of national party funds. \u201cThe DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the most significant defection from Platner so far comes from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), a possible 2028 progressive presidential candidate who invested a lot of his credibility in defending Platner ahead of the Democratic primary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where Khanna once conceded Platner had behaved in ways that were \u201cmisogynistic,\u201d \u201cshameful,\u201d and \u201cwrong,\u201d but was sent to a \u201cdark place\u201d serving in Iraq and therefore deserved \u201cgrace,\u201d on Monday, he reaffirmed \u201csexual assault or violence against women is a red line,\u201d pulled his endorsement, and called on Platner to drop out.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This time, the worst credible allegation against Platner could not be dismissed as coming from a Republican.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Platner has denied the latest allegations, saying, \u201cAny accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false,\u201d he did not sound nearly as committed to staying in the race as Biden did in the hours following the debate debacle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRegardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,\u201d Platner said in a video posted to X.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the window for replacing Platner is shorter. Biden and Trump debated on June 27, 2024. The Democratic convention in Chicago kicked off on Aug. 19 and acceptance speeches began on Aug. 21. Biden ended his reelection bid on July 21 after nearly a month trying to resist Democratic pressure and stay in the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This time, Democrats don\u2019t have weeks to waste convincing their nominee to withdraw.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats had been worried about Biden\u2019s prospects before the debate, with several polls showing him trailing Trump. Platner\u2019s poll numbers initially held up <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >amid pre-primary stories<\/a> about his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-democrats-three-defenses-of-graham-platner\/\" title=\"The ...&#039; three defenses of Graham ...\">past bad behavior<\/a> toward women, though those reports stopped short of alleging sexual assault. (It was widely rumored at the time that a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-view-hosts-test-positive-for-covid-19-mid-show-leave-stage-just-before-kamala-harris-interview\/\" title=\"WATCH: \u2018View\u2019 Hosts Test Positive For COVI...19 Mi...Show, Leave Stage Just Before Kamala Harris Interview\">major news story<\/a> containing such allegations was in the works.)<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner\u2019s lead has steadily dwindled to just 0.7 points in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/senate\/general\/2026\/maine\/collins-vs-platner\"><em>RealClearPolitics <\/em>polling average<\/a>. Two separate polls by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1D7onbq7aV59X8lq2-YatdLNakqqCYTnB\/view\">Wedgewood <\/a>and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/fox-news-poll-maine-senate-race-tight-concerns-about-both-candidates\">Fox News <\/a>showed Collins leading. She significantly outperformed her poll numbers when she won reelection in 2020.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Democrats lose the Maine Senate race, their path to an upper chamber majority <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4633579\/republican-edge-senate-majority-2026-midterms\/\">becomes precarious<\/a> and highly dependent on success in states Trump won, often by double digits, in 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While former President Barack Obama and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) were pivotal in forcing Biden\u2019s exit, the important poles of influence with Platner would appear to be Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schumer and much of the party establishment had opposed Platner from the beginning, but their preferred candidate, Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME), bombed in the pre-primary polling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner and his allies would likely push for a replacement in the progressive or socialist mold. One possibility is Troy Jackson, who was backed by Sanders and the Democratic Socialists of America in his unsuccessful gubernatorial bid. Jackson also hails from northern Maine, which happens to be Collins\u2019s geographical base, and was the only Democrat tested in the Wedgewood poll to lead her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner still has some leverage because he won the primary with more than 70% of the vote and would need to agree to leave the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Democrats could once again pull off this candidate switch in the nick of time, it could strengthen their chances of flipping this seat and control of the Senate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4637616\/graham-platner-sexual-assault-maine-senate\/\"><strong>PLATNER TO \u2018REFLECT\u2019 ON \u2018BEST PATH FORWARD\u2019 FOLLOWING SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, it will leave the replacement with less time to campaign (a set of circumstances former Vice President Kamala Harris has blamed for her 2024 loss to Trump), and it will once again put the ostensibly pro-democracy party in the position of overruling its primary voters in a key race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The episode is also embarrassing to Democrats who vouched for Platner prior to the latest bombshell.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats drop Maine candidate Graham Platner over new sexual assault claims<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2659,"featured_media":2625844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2280206426.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[3620,3685,5894],"class_list":["post-2625843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-biden","tag-democrats","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2280206426.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2625843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2625843"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2625843\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2625847,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2625843\/revisions\/2625847"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2625844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2625843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2625843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2625843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}