This means he can be replaced with another Democrat
Graham Platner can be replaced as the Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine if he withdraws from the race by next Monday, and state law would then give the state Democratic Party until July 27 to name a replacement.
It’s impossible for me to back Platner - he’s out of the race. If I had a choice, I’d pick him over Collins, but I’d prefer a candidate with a more marginalized identity and substantially more experience in successful “leftist” political work.
The Democrats spent roughly a third as much promoting Platner as the GOP spent trying to take him down (I don’t have exact numbers), so I agree that propaganda is everywhere. Perhaps the GOP is more desperate, while (as you say) the Democrats have other avenues to power, so they’re allowing this one to slip by.
Regarding the rape allegations, I sincerely hope the victims receive justice and healing, even though I don’t expect much from the system - that’s a whole different conversation.
My only point here is that the massive amount of propaganda aimed at demonizing political candidates gives us a very distorted view of who they really are, mostly on the side of “wow they’re so eeeevil”, so we all need to be wary of that. (Unless they’re a billionaire of course; at a certain level of power evil seems to be compulsory)
They’re not allowing this one to slip by: they really want the seat. But what they are doing is what the GOP never does, and that is hold their own people accountable for being criminals, even if it means losing political power. Platner, Menendez, Swalwell, (I could go on) Dems will hold even powerful members accountable for this stuff (ever since Clinton; there was a real soul searching within the party about him).
They’re going to fight hard for this seat. They just not going to do it with Platner.