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Democrats’ brief experiment in letting their hair down and nominating a Senate candidate who makes them feel edgy has all but concluded.

After a well-corroborated Politico story in which an ex claimed that Graham Platner sexually assaulted her, the party has seen enough. Democrats ranging from Chuck Schumer to Zohran Mamdani have called on Platner to drop out. Prominent early endorsers like Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have withdrawn their support and encouraged him to step aside. The national Democratic Party said it won’t invest in the race so long as he’s the nominee, and the Maine Democratic Party wants him out too. The bottom has fallen out.

While Platner—whose lead in the race had evaporated after a previous wave of stories about his relationship history—has not yet relented, he has suggested that he’s reassessing his run. The Platner campaign told Politico on Monday that he “vigorously denies” the new allegation. But in a video statement, Platner said the campaign would be “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.”

If he drops out, where do things go from here? Who will run against Sen. Susan Collins this November?

Maine law would allow Democrats to field a new candidate by July 27 if Platner drops out by Monday, July 13. The mechanics of that replacement process, though, are vague. The law merely allows that “a political committee may make a replacement nomination” without specifying a process it must follow. In other words, any process—or lack thereof—about........

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