Environmental groups, a prominent part of Maine Democrat Graham Platner’s base, are withdrawing their endorsement for his Senate run following sexual assault allegations.
Also abandoning Platner are top lawmakers working on energy and environment issues like Sens. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
Platner, an oyster farmer and progressive, won a Democratic primary to take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins in one of the most watched races of the year. But Platner is now considering whether to pursue his candidacy following POLITICO’s reporting of new allegations against him.
“It is critical that he step down so that the Maine Democratic Party can swiftly replace him on the ballot with someone who can win back voters’ trust, hold polluting and greedy corporations accountable, and protect the air, water and land that are vital to Mainers’ way of life and economy,” Sara Chieffo, senior vice president of government affairs at the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, said in a statement.
