Graham Platner has formally withdrawn from Maine’s Senate primary with a parting shot: “F*ck ICE. Free Palestine. Up the Hearts.”
The scandal-plagued Democrat nominee announced his exit Thursday night, leaving his party scrambling to replace him in the race against five-term incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.
“I write to formally withdraw my candidacy from United States Senate,” Platner began in his formal statement.
Platner claimed Maine Democrats voted for him because they wanted “Medicare for All; to ban billionaires from buying elections; and for an end to taxpayer-funded genocide and forever wars.”
“F*ck ICE. Free Palestine. Up the Hearts.”
“They voted for time and dignity; for strong unions and jobs they can raise families on; for the hope of buying a home; for the chance to retire with grace,” he continued.
He wrapped his withdrawal letter by declaring Americans are “desperate for change” and offering gratitude to supporters before signing off with the incendiary closing line.
Platner’s exit follows a months-long cascade of damning allegations top Democrats routinely ignored as they continued backing him.
The list of scandals included a Nazi tattoo, bragging about masturbating in public porta-potties, mocking a Purple Heart recipient as a “dumb motherfucker didn’t deserve to live,” smearing rural Maine populations as racist, blaming sexual assault victims for being assaulted, and sending explicit sexts to a half-dozen women in 2023 while married.
The final nail came last week when a woman accused him of breaking into her home and assaulting her — allegations he still denies.
Only then did top Democrats finally withdraw their support and call on Platner to drop out.
The Maine Democratic Party said the process is now underway to replace Platner in the race.
“As you all know, we have been absolutely committed to transparency. So even though it is incredibly late at night, I am coming to you live on the ground from the Maine Dems headquarters,” Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said in a video statement late Thursday.
“Candidates now have the ability to submit their declaration of intent and begin engaging Maine Democrats in earnest by earning their support and collecting signatures,” she said.
Murphy-Anderson added the party is “continuing to race towards the release of our fair and inclusive process to select a new U.S. Senate nominee.”
JUST IN: Graham Platner Formally Withdraws from Maine U.S. Senate Race — Name to Be Removed from November Ballot. pic.twitter.com/LW2mploL4l
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) July 10, 2026
