July 8, 2026, Portland, Maine, USA: Planter just announced he is ‘suspending’ his Senate bid. American political candidate, oyster farmer, and Marine Corps veteran, Democratic nominee in the 2026 U.S. Senate election in Maine, challenging incumbent Republican Senator S. Collins. Platner, facing mounting pressure to withdraw from top Democrats to quit, after ex-girlfriend Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident, accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021, an allegation Platner denies. FILE PHOTO: Dateline: January, 3, 2026, Portland, Maine, USA: Maine Democratic U.S. Senate candidate GRAHAM CUNNINGHAM PLATNER, 41, speaks at an anti-war rally in Portland, Maine. (Credit Image: © Troy R. Bennett/ZUMA Press Wire) #zumapress #journalism #platner #politics