Republicans prepare $8 million ad campaign against possible Platner replacement
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Republicans are preparing to launch an $8 million ad blitz against the candidate selected to replace Maine Senate Democratic nominee Graham Platner in the wake of sexual assault allegations.
In May, the super PAC Pine Tree Results spent $2 million on YouTube and television ads bashing Platner and still has $8 million left to fight a new Democratic nominee just months ahead of the November general election, according to a report from Axios.
Platner is facing calls to step aside from the race to replace incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), after he was accused of raping two of his ex-girlfriends.
Lyndsey Fifield, who previously dated the Senate candidate, claimed Platner raped her in 2021 by pulling off a condom during sex, while another ex-girlfriend, Jenny Racicot, told Politico that Platner forced her to have sex with him while he was intoxicated.
The oyster farmer has denied wrongdoing and has not yet exited the race, despite losing support from the Maine Democratic Party and Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), among others.
The Senate Majority PAC tied to Democrats has already pulled its $33 million investment in Maine from Platner with intentions to redirect funds as they encouraged the embattled nominee to drop out of the race.
Devon Murphy-Anderson, executive director of the Maine Democratic Party, said the group remains “hyper focused on developing a representative, transparent and inclusive process to select a new nominee when he chooses to withdraw from the race.”
However, some of Platner’s staffers, including his campaign manager Ben Chin and organizing director Spencer Toth, say they’ve been excluded from efforts to select a replacement.
Toth resigned from the Maine Democratic Party on Wednesday, citing its lack of engagement with grassroots organizers and volunteers.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗ · Axios ↗
A Republican-aligned super PAC plans to spend $8 million on advertising against Maine's Democratic Senate nominee replacement. The move follows sexual assault allegations against current nominee Graham Platner. Two women have accused Platner of sexual assault; he denies wrongdoing but has lost support from Maine Democrats and several U.S. senators. The Democratic Senate Majority PAC withdrew its $33 million Maine investment. Maine Democratic Party leadership is developing a process to select a new nominee, though some of Platner's staff say they've been excluded from these efforts.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗ · Axios ↗
Skip to content
Republicans are preparing to launch an $8 million ad blitz against the candidate selected to replace Maine Senate Democratic nominee Graham Platner in the wake of sexual assault allegations.
In May, the super PAC Pine Tree Results spent $2 million on YouTube and television ads bashing Platner and still has $8 million left to fight a new Democratic nominee just months ahead of the November general election, according to a report from Axios.
Platner is facing calls to step aside from the race to replace incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), after he was accused of raping two of his ex-girlfriends.
Lyndsey Fifield, who previously dated the Senate candidate, claimed Platner raped her in 2021 by pulling off a condom during sex, while another ex-girlfriend, Jenny Racicot, told Politico that Platner forced her to have sex with him while he was intoxicated.
The oyster farmer has denied wrongdoing and has not yet exited the race, despite losing support from the Maine Democratic Party and Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), among others.
The Senate Majority PAC tied to Democrats has already pulled its $33 million investment in Maine from Platner with intentions to redirect funds as they encouraged the embattled nominee to drop out of the race.
Devon Murphy-Anderson, executive director of the Maine Democratic Party, said the group remains “hyper focused on developing a representative, transparent and inclusive process to select a new nominee when he chooses to withdraw from the race.”
However, some of Platner’s staffers, including his campaign manager Ben Chin and organizing director Spencer Toth, say they’ve been excluded from efforts to select a replacement.
Toth resigned from the Maine Democratic Party on Wednesday, citing its lack of engagement with grassroots organizers and volunteers.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗ · Axios ↗
Republicans' super PAC Pine Tree Results is preparing to spend $8 million on ads against Maine's Democratic Senate nominee replacement The super PAC previously spent $2 million on ads targeting Platner in May Graham Platner is the current Democratic nominee for the Maine Senate seat held by incumbent Republican Susan Collins Platner faces sexual assault allegations from two ex-girlfriends Platner has denied wrongdoing and has not withdrawn from the race The Democratic Senate Majority PAC has withdrawn its $33 million Maine investment Maine Democratic Party leadership is developing a replacement selection process Some of Platner's campaign staff report exclusion from the replacement selection process
Read the full story at The Hill ↗ · Axios ↗
- Republicans' super PAC Pine Tree Results is preparing an $8 million ad campaign against Maine's Democratic Senate nominee replacement
- This follows sexual assault allegations against current nominee Graham Platner, who faces calls to withdraw but has not yet done so
- The Democratic Senate Majority PAC has already withdrawn its $33 million Maine investment and encouraged Platner to exit the race
- Platner's campaign staff report exclusion from the replacement selection process