rights
A gay man could become Maine's next US senator
By Molly Sprayregen at LGBTQ Nation
· July 9, 2026
· 4 min read
Former Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner officially dropped out of Maine's race Wednesday night in response to a woman he dated credibly accusing him of raping her in 2021. The rape accusation was the final nail in the coffin of a scandal-plagued candidacy. The party is now scrambling to re
Key takeaway Trump Jordan Wood threw his hat in the ring for the Senate seat in 2025 but decided to run for the House of Representatives instead after his congressional district's incumbent announced his retirement.
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Category: rights ·
Published: July 9, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Former Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner officially dropped out of Maine's race Wednesday night in response to a woman he dated credibly accusing him of raping her in 2021. The rape accusation was the final nail in the coffin of a scandal-plagued candidacy. The party is now scrambling to re
When was this published? This article was first published on July 9, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Molly Sprayregen at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more rights coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .