Platner Officially Withdraws From Senate Race With Parting Shot to ICE, Israel

MARY CHASTAIN JUL 10, 2026 5:31 PM

That Graham Platner is such a classy dude, isn’t he? That’s sarcasm, by the way.

Platner sent a letter to the Maine Secretary of State’s Office to formally withdraw from the 2026 Senate race against Sen. Susan Collins (R).

Platner basically repeated everything he said in his Wednesday video.

But Platner signed off, “F*ck ICE. Free Palestine. Up the Hearts.”

The office confirmed it received Platner’s letter.

“The deadline for the party to name a replacement is the 4th Monday in July (July 27, 2026),” the office wrote in the press release. “Maine Statute does not address how a replacement candidate may be chosen by a party, only that the candidate filling the vacancy must be a ‘qualified person.’ Announcements about how a replacement candidate will be chosen or when that candidate will be announced will come from the political party.”

The Maine Democratic Party will hold a nominating convention.

Many people have already launched bids:

Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson

Former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Nirav Shah

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows

Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban

Former congressional candidate Jordan Wood, who served as chief of staff to former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA)

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