Maine Democrats plan convention to replace scandal-hit Platner – US politics live

Maine Democrats Schedule Nominating Convention After Graham Platner Withdraws Senate Candidacy

The Maine Democratic Party has scheduled a nominating convention to select a replacement candidate for the U.S. Senate race following Graham Platner’s withdrawal. Platner, who won the Democratic primary, announced his exit in a video posted on social media on July 8, 2026. In the statement, he denied allegations of sexual assault made by a former girlfriend and attributed the claims to actions by the Democratic establishment and media outlets.

The party, which under state law selects the replacement, set a deadline of July 27 for naming a new nominee to face Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Several individuals have indicated interest in the nomination, including former state senator Troy Jackson, Maine Beer Company owner Dan Kleban, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director Nirav Shah, state legislator Valli Geiger, and former congressional aide Jordan Wood. Jackson and Kleban publicly declared their candidacies shortly after Platner’s announcement.

Party officials issued a statement noting high levels of volunteer participation connected to the primary campaign and expressing intent to select a nominee capable of contesting the November election. Platner had received more primary votes than any previous Democratic Senate candidate in Maine.

In separate developments, President Donald Trump stated on July 8 that he would ask the Supreme Court to review its interpretation of the 14th Amendment regarding birthright citizenship. He cited billboards in Texas and Mexico advertising medical services to expectant mothers from Mexico. The references appeared to draw from a Fox News segment describing two such advertisements.

Trump traveled from Turkey to England on the older Air Force One aircraft rather than the newer plane previously used for a NATO summit in Ankara. He later transferred to the newer aircraft at Mildenhall air force base for the return flight to Washington. No official explanation for the change was provided at the time.

Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House World Cup task force, addressed Trump’s communications with FIFA concerning the suspension of U.S. player Folarin Balogun ahead of a match against Belgium. Trump had described the referee in an earlier game, Raphael Claus, as potentially questionable based on prior incidents.

U.S. stock indexes declined on July 8 amid ongoing U.S. military actions involving Iran and comments from the Federal Reserve indicating possible reasons for maintaining or increasing interest rates. Oil prices rose after Trump stated at the NATO summit that the prior Iran-related ceasefire had ended. Brent crude increased more than 5 percent and exceeded $80 per barrel.

A federal judge in Manhattan ordered the release of more than $5 million that Trump owes E. Jean Carroll from a 2023 civil verdict on sexual abuse and defamation claims. Trump filed an appeal of the release order shortly afterward.

A report by the nonprofit Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility analyzed federal data and found that recorded chemical accidents, explosions, fires, and releases had increased by at least 51 percent since 2021, with deaths and injuries rising at least 20 percent. The analysis referenced incidents including a tank malfunction in Garden Grove, California, that prompted evacuation of more than 40,000 people and a tank collapse in Longview, Washington, that resulted in 11 worker deaths. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act applies to more than 12,500 facilities. The Biden administration updated related rules in 2024; the current administration has continued efforts to revise the program.

The Supreme Court in late June permitted the administration to end temporary protected status for Haitian and Syrian nationals. Analysts noted that immigrants constitute roughly 30 percent of long-term care workers, with Haitian nationals representing about 7 percent of that group according to data from LeadingAge. The organization stated that foreign-born staff provide a substantial share of services in aging care settings.

The French men’s national soccer team used charter flights operated by Global Crossing Airlines for at least three domestic segments during the World Cup period. The same company conducted more than half of ICE removal flights in 2024 and 2025, according to a prior Guardian review of flight data. The team and the airline did not respond to inquiries about the arrangements.

The developments occur against the backdrop of a Senate race viewed by both parties as competitive. The Democratic nominee will have a compressed period to organize a general election campaign against the five-term incumbent Collins.