At least six Maine Democrats are vying to replace Graham Platner as the party's Senate nominee after the progressive candidate suspended his campaign amid a rape accusation from a former girlfriend. The state Democratic Party will select a replacement to face Sen. Susan Collins in the fall election.
Maine's Democratic Party stated that U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner would not be able to select his replacement if he drops out of the race, while accusing his campaign of attempting to influence the replacement process. Platner's team has denied the accusations.
Growing number of Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, are urging Maine Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner to withdraw from the race following a Politico report of a sexual assault allegation from a woman he dated in 2021. Platner has denied the claim.
Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow suspended her U.S. Senate campaign in early July 2026, narrowing the Democratic primary to a two-way race between moderate Haley Stevens and progressive Abdul El-Sayed just one month before the August 4 primary election.
Louisiana holds a Republican Senate primary runoff on June 27, 2026, after incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy was denied a third term. Rep. Julia Letlow, endorsed by Donald Trump, faces a competitive contest to secure the GOP nomination.
Graham Platner, a political newcomer running for U.S. Senate in Maine, heads into Tuesday's Democratic primary facing intense scrutiny over allegations including a Nazi tattoo, inflammatory Reddit posts, and other controversies that have divided Democrats nationally and prompted concerns from party members in Congress.
Paralympic gold medalist Josh Turek won Iowa's Democratic Senate primary, while Trump-endorsed Rep. Ashley Hinson won the Republican nomination for the state's open Senate seat, setting up a competitive general election race.
Former U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme secured the Republican nomination for Montana's U.S. Senate seat, winning the GOP primary with endorsements from President Donald Trump and retiring Sen. Steve Daines. Alme will face challengers including an independent candidate in the November general election.
Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner's campaign has confirmed he sent sexually explicit text messages to multiple women during his marriage, according to information his wife shared with the campaign. The scandal threatens his insurgent campaign to unseat longtime Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in Maine.
Republican Congressman Mike Collins and former college football coach Derek Dooley will face each other in a June 16 runoff election to determine who will challenge Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in Georgia's November Senate race.
India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won control of West Bengal state for the first time in state elections, marking a significant breakthrough in one of India's most challenging political territories. The victory is expected to accelerate the government's push for uniform civil law reforms and infrastructure development.
Maine Governor Janet Mills suspended her U.S. Senate campaign on April 30, 2026, citing lack of financial resources. Her exit effectively hands the Democratic nomination to Graham Platner, a 41-year-old military veteran and oyster farmer, who will face Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in a race crucial to Democrats' hopes of winning Senate control.
The Texas Tribune released a Q&A comparing Ken Paxton and John Cornyn's positions on immigration, IVF, foreign policy, AI and other key issues as the two Republicans head to a runoff election for U.S. Senate. Both candidates declined to participate, so the publication used their past statements and voting history.
Austin state lawmaker James Talarico defeated Jasmine Crockett in the Texas Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday, securing the party's nomination in a race Democrats hope will end their 30-year statewide losing streak. The primary featured a contentious debate over electoral strategy.
Texas Senator John Cornyn outraised competitors including Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Hunt in Q4 2025 fundraising, though polling shows Cornyn and Paxton in a close race with neither reaching the threshold to avoid a runoff.
