All articles tagged with #senate race
Democrat Graham Platner officially withdrew from Maine's U.S. Senate race against Republican Susan Collins, filing to remove his name ahead of Monday's 5 p.m. deadline and clearing the way for a Democratic replacement at a nominating convention; the move ends a turbulent bid with several candidates already vying to be the party's nominee.
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.
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.
With Graham Platner weighing withdrawal amid new allegations, Maine Democrats scramble to determine how a replacement would be chosen, facing intra-party tensions between insurgent and establishment wings and weighing potential candidates such as Nirav Shah and Troy Jackson, all under a tight ballot deadline and pressure from national figures.
A Times/Portland Press Herald/Siena poll finds Democratic challenger Graham Platner and incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins running very close in Maine’s U.S. Senate race, with Platner holding a slight lead that is within the margin of error, leaving the outcome effectively undecided.
President Donald Trump endorses Susan Collins in Maine’s Senate race, calling Democrat Graham Platner a “thug” and an “outright pig” while accusing Democrats of hypocrisy over Platner amid questions about Trump’s past conduct.
President Trump will host Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at the White House, Paxton’s first in-person meeting with Trump since clinching the Republican Senate nomination after a brutal runoff with Sen. John Cornyn. The meeting underscores Trump’s influence as Paxton works on Capitol Hill and the NRSC backs a fundraising push, while Democrats hope their candidate James Talarico can exploit Paxton’s baggage in Texas’ closely watched 2026 Senate race.
Before the Maine Democratic primary, Senate hopeful Graham Platner is under fresh scrutiny after his wife revealed he sent sexually explicit texts to multiple women after marriage, a development that could complicate Democrats’ path to flipping the seat held by Susan Collins. The controversy joins past baggage (old Reddit posts and a Nazi-symbol tattoo) that have hounded his campaign. Polls show Platner ahead in Maine, but Republicans are ready to attack on character, while some Democrats acknowledge the voters will decide based on issues.
Texas has added roughly 2.6 million residents since 2020, fueling rapid growth in exurbs and suburbs that are reshaping the electorate. The influx creates uncertainty in the 2026 Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico as newcomers’ political leanings are less predictable, and Latino voters show signs of moving away from Trump, complicating Republicans’ traditional margins even as Paxton remains a strong incumbent.
After entering the Maine U.S. Senate race, Graham Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, told a campaign aide she’d found sexually explicit texts he sent to other women during their marriage, a disclosure reported by the Wall Street Journal ahead of a Labor Day rally with Bernie Sanders; the episode could raise questions about campaign optics for Platner.
Democrat James Talarico gained fundraising traction and Democrats see a path to Texas’s Senate seat after Ken Paxton’s GOP primary victory; analysts briefly moved the race to lean Republican, but a Talarico upset could reshape the 2028 battleground in Texas. The race hinges on Paxton’s establishment support, turnout from Black voters, external endorsements, and whether Talarico’s populist message can win over suburban and rural voters amid inflation and national politics surrounding Trump.
After Ken Paxton’s Texas GOP primary win over Sen. John Cornyn, donors warn the general election could be the most expensive yet, with some predicting as much as $150 million needed to win in a state with 20 media markets; Paxton trails in fundraising and will rely on national groups and MAGA Inc., while Trump’s backing complicates and accelerates fundraising dynamics. Democrats see opportunities but expect heavy outside spending, which could divert funds from other battlegrounds as both sides brace for a high-stakes, expensive race.
Former Sen. Sherrod Brown won the Democratic nomination in Ohio’s special Senate race, clearing the path to a costly general election showdown against Republican Jon Husted. Brown, making a comeback after a 2024 loss, was recruited by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and enters a race anticipated to be among the most expensive in the country. Brown held an early fundraising edge, but outside money is expected to flood the race. Both candidates released their first TV ads: Husted’s spot emphasizes his background and job growth while drawing contrasts with Brown, with the ad noting Epstein-linked donations; Brown’s ad does not feature him. The Ohio contest is viewed as a key pickup opportunity for Democrats in their bid to regain Senate control.
Maine Democrats rally behind Graham Platner as the presumptive Senate nominee after Gov. Janet Mills withdraws, touting his grassroots operation and aiming to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, while he faces a June 9 primary against David Costello and scrutiny over past social-media posts.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ bid for the U.S. Senate collapsed about six weeks before the primary after fundraising struggles and failure to blunt Graham Platner’s rapid rise, exposing two key campaign vulnerabilities cited by Democrats.