Congress

Cheyenne Hunt: Democrats drew a ‘red line’ with Platner

Published

2 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Cheyenne Hunt, a progressive Democratic lawyer whose nonprofit aims to fight misogyny, said she is relieved Graham Platner dropped out of the Maine Senate race.

“Today, I’m proud of my party for drawing a red line and putting our values above political outcomes,” Hunt said in a statement posted on X on Wednesday. “Now the hard work begins to put forth a candidate who can defeat Susan Collins and ensure we send a champion for women to the Senate this November.”

Hunt, the executive director of Reckoning Action, had connected Blue Light News with Jenny Racicot, who dated Platner and alleged that he forced her to have sex with him, which he has denied. Earlier this year, Hunt also was key to bringing forward sexual misconduct allegations against former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), prompting him to suspend his campaign for California governor. Swalwell denies the allegations.

Hunt endorsed Platner as leader of the group Gen Z for Change last fall but withdrew her support in June after three of Platner’s ex-girlfriends described what they called “reckless” and “unsettling” behavior from Platner to The New York Times.

In an interview with Blue Light News after Platner suspended his campaign, Hunt said she was “deeply disappointed in those around him that are continuing in this incredibly tumultuous and difficult moment for the party in the country to stand by his hubris and suggest that he has any kind of leverage in choosing who his successor is.”

Congress

How we got here …

Published

1 hour ago

July 9, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

We break down how Graham Platner’s momentous campaign crumbled in the days after POLITICO’s report of a new sexual assault allegation against him.

Congress

Collins’ allies think Platner’s exit makes her reelection bid tougher

Published

2 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Republicans may be publicly using Graham Platner’s exit from Maine’s Senate race to ratchet up their attacks on Democrats, but behind the scenes, his withdrawal is hardly being viewed as good news for Sen. Susan Collins’ reelection campaign.

According to a person familiar with the campaign’s thinking, granted anonymity to discuss it, Collins’ team had long viewed Platner as a uniquely vulnerable opponent whose personal controversies could help offset one of the biggest challenges she faces in 2026: running as a blue-state Republican in the Trump era.

“She can certainly win, but they didn’t want to change candidates,” the person familiar with the campaign’s thinking said. “The stuff we already knew about Platner was going to propel Collins to overcome the Trump anchor. Now it’s going to be a Democrat with a cleaner record, presumably.”

Collins’ campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, and it has not weighed in publicly since Platner announced the suspension of his campaign.

From the Collins campaign’s perspective, Platner offered an unusually favorable contrast.

They believed his baggage would have given Collins an opportunity to shift voters’ attention away from national politics and toward questions about his character.

Instead, Maine Democrats now have the opportunity to nominate a candidate with a cleaner profile, raising the prospect of a more conventional general election in which Collins will have to confront the same challenges facing other Republican incumbents.

A flash poll conducted by Platner’s own campaign and obtained by POLITICO Wednesday bore this out: Platner trailed Collins in the poll, while three likely Democratic candidates who lost their gubernatorial primary last month led or were statistically tied with her.

The Collins campaign remains confident the senator can win another term, according to the person familiar with its thinking. But Platner’s withdrawal removes what allies viewed as one of Collins’ clearest advantages.

Congress

Top Democratic groups recommit to Maine Senate race after Platner drops out

Published

3 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Senate Democrats’ campaign arm is jumping back into Maine and launching a fund to raise money for the party’s new Senate nominee, now that Graham Platner has ended his campaign.

“The DSCC will work tirelessly to ensure the new Democratic nominee has the infrastructure and resources to immediately turn their focus to the general election, and in November we will defeat Susan Collins and win a Senate majority,” said Devan Barber, the executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

The move follows DSCC and other groups — including the Democratic National Committee and Senate Majority PAC, a top Democrat-aligned group — abandoning Platner in the wake of a POLITICO report that a woman said he forced her to have sex with him. That would have shifted critical resources away from a race the party has said is a must-win for taking back Senate control.

Now, the DSCC has launched a nominee fund to raise money for whoever will replace Platner on the ballot, according to one person with knowledge of its plans, granted anonymity to share private details. After the party nominating convention, the fund will be transferred directly to the nominee’s campaign.

The Senate Majority PAC also said Wednesday that it is reentering the race and is “committed” to defeating GOP Sen. Susan Collins.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — who, alongside DSCC Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, announced earlier this week that the group wouldn’t spend in Maine if Platner was on the ballot — did not mention Platner in a tweet Wednesday about the race.

“Democrats are going to defeat Susan Collins, win Maine, and take back the Senate,” Schumer posted on X.