All articles tagged with #democrats
Graham Platner has officially withdrawn from the Maine U.S. Senate race, with his name removed from the ballot to allow Democrats to nominate a replacement; the party has until July 27 to select a candidate after Platner suspended his bid amid a sexual assault allegation that he denies.
Graham Platner formally withdrew from Maine’s U.S. Senate race, triggering a process for the Maine Democratic Party to nominate a replacement by July 27 (with candidates likely declaring by July 15). The winner will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November, in a race seen as pivotal for control of the Senate, amid ongoing controversy surrounding Platner and calls for an open, voter-driven selection process by the party.
Graham Platner's sudden withdrawal from Maine's Senate race forces a rushed replacement before the July 27 deadline, a scramble echoing the 2024 Biden-to-Harris switch that tested party unity, fundraising, and process legitimacy as leaders weigh a convention versus a primary and potential successors like Rep. Jared Golden.
Democrats in Maine are rushing to replace Graham Platner after he suspended his Senate bid amid misconduct allegations, with a July deadline to withdraw and a July 27 date to name a replacement. The party has outlined a tough qualification process (a 300-word campaign plan and at least 500 voter signatures from across eight counties) and several contenders—Nirav Shah, Troy Jackson, Jordan Wood, Shenna Bellows, and Dan Kleban—are considering runs, along with potential interest from Janet Mills or others. The goal is to unite behind a candidate to challenge Republican Susan Collins, but Platner’s exit also underscores rifts between the party’s left and moderates as Democrats navigate a must-win race.
Rahm Emanuel, in a Tel Aviv speech, warned that the U.S.–Israel alliance is at a crossroads and urged Israel to abandon a militaristic path, arguing that unconditional U.S. support contributes to Palestinian suffering and should be conditioned to push Israel toward a more moderate, humane policy.
Following Graham Platner's withdrawal amid sexual‑assault allegations, Maine Democrats race to replace him with Nirav Shah and a slate of familiar contenders—former gubernatorial hopefuls Troy Jackson and Shenna Bellows, and Dan Kleban—in a hastily organized, unpledged delegate process that could determine Senate control when they face Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Maine Democrat Graham Platner abruptly suspended his U.S. Senate bid after allegations of sexual assault, delivering an 11-minute exit video that blamed the political establishment and framed the campaign as a movement fighting for openness, while critics called the performance self-pitying and Democrats scramble to nominate a replacement to face Republican Susan Collins.
Maine’s secretary of state says no official withdrawal notice has yet been received from Graham Platner; to be official, withdrawal must be in writing with a signature to the Elections office (email attachments with a signature are allowed). Platner must officially withdraw by July 13 at 5pm ET for Democrats to gain a two-week window to pick a replacement, lasting until July 27 at 5pm ET. Democrats plan a nominating convention to choose Platner’s replacement ahead of the November race, as Platner suspended his campaign amid allegations.
Graham Platner’s withdrawal from Maine’s U.S. Senate race after a new sexual allegation triggers a rapid scramble among Democrats to replace him before the July 27 deadline, with Troy Jackson quickly entering and others like Shenna Bellows, Dan Kleban, Nirav Shah, Jordan Wood, and potential nods for Chellie Pingree or Sara Gideon weighing in. The Maine Democratic Party has approved a nominating convention plan to pick a successor to face Susan Collins, as candidates weigh feasibility, past votes, and the path to defeating the Republican incumbent in a pivotal race.
Amid a POLITICO report that a woman accused him of sexual assault in 2022, Platner ignored advisers’ pleas for a gracious, conciliatory farewell and released an 11‑minute, defiant video blaming the establishment and the corporate media for undermining his campaign. The move triggered a scramble within Maine Democrats over replacement plans, with a convention framework discussed and national groups redirecting resources to back a new nominee; Troy Jackson filed to run, and other potential contenders (Shenna Bellows, Nirav Shah, Dan Kleban) weighed bids as the party pivots to replace him.
In Michigan’s Democratic Senate contest, Abdul El-Sayed — backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — faces Haley Stevens, the candidate favored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The race has devolved into a nasty, high-stakes battle underscoring a broader clash between a rising progressive wing and party establishment as each side courts voters ahead of the midterms.
Graham Platner suspended his Maine Senate campaign after sexual-assault allegations resurfaced, leaving the Maine Democratic Party to pick a replacement by the July 27 deadline as it faces Republican Sen. Susan Collins this fall; national Democrats had warned they wouldn’t back the race if Platner remained on the ballot.
Democrats’ embrace of Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner, despite a long record of troubling posts, a Nazi‑linked tattoo, and private concerns about his behavior, backfired as outlets reported damning details and a major campaign firm acknowledged possible missteps. The episode shows how Trump’s rise has pushed Democrats to overlook or rationalize flaws for strategic wins, leaving the party with limited options in a key race and exposing internal mismanagement from Platner’s team and establishment endorsements that shifted as baggage became public.
President Donald Trump denied about $227 million in FEMA disaster-aid requests for New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island for a February snowstorm, even as he approved aid for several Republican-led states days earlier. Democrats accuse the move of politicizing emergency decisions, noting past POLITICO reporting of a pattern favoring GOP-led states. FEMA says aid requires genuinely extraordinary damage and says it has returned to a more rigorous review process amid broader pushes to tighten disaster declarations.
The article argues that Trump's signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act largely benefits the wealthy with permanent tax cuts while offering only temporary relief for workers, undermining Trump's economic pitch. A year on, polling indicates the economy is cited as a weakness for Trump, enabling Democrats to make the bill a central midterm argument as they emphasize its skewed benefits and expiration dates facing working families ahead of November.