Maine's Democratic Party has descended into open conflict over its embattled US Senate candidate Graham Platner, who faces mounting pressure to withdraw from his challenge to long-serving Republican incumbent Susan Collins. The turmoil matters because it threatens the party's prospects in a key Senate contest, with Platner—a former oyster farmer—now mired in sexual assault allegations even as questions swirl over who would replace him on the ticket.

Platner has denied the allegations but says he is weighing whether to drop out and find the "best path forward". The state party's executive director, Devon Murphy-Anderson, publicly accused Platner and his team of trying to "put his thumb on the scale" in choosing a successor, insisting they have no role in selecting the nominee. Platner's campaign rejected the claim, saying it wanted only to ensure his voters and volunteers were included in the process. The row escalated as The Washington Post reported an ex-girlfriend's accusation that Platner removed condoms during sex without consent, and Politico published a related allegation from a woman named Jenny Racicot.