July 10 (UPI) — Maine Democrats are hoping to convene by the end of July to find a Senate nominee to replace Graham Platner, it was reported on Friday.
Party leadership has been scrambling to replace Platner since he was accused by a former partner of sexually assaulting her while he was drunk.
Platner dropped out of the race on Wednesday under intense pressure from politicians and groups that had previously endorsed him.
Now, Democrats are hoping to choose delegates within a week, and hold a state convention to pick a replacement the following weekend, The New York Times reported.
The party has not finalized plans, including a date or location for the convention, The Times reported.
Whoever they chose will run against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, the five-term incumbent.
Platner has denied the accusations.
“It’s not the false allegations, though, that have brought us to where we are,” he said in announcing his departure from the race. “It’s the fact that they’re being used by the political establishment to put structural pressure on us.”
On Monday, a woman who once dated Platner said he forced her to have sex with him five years ago.
“I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” Jenny Racicot, 41, told Politico. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.'”
Raciot added Platner was “very drunk and wouldn’t take no for an answer,” the New York Post reported.
Maine Democrats are hoping to have a nominee by July 27, according to The Times.
