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I was sitting in my car in a parking lot in Bangor when I saw the news on my phone on Monday: Jessica Piper and Adam Wren with Politico had broken the story that ultimately upended Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner’s campaign, detailing the experience of an ex-girlfriend who said Platner forced her to have sex with him nearly five years ago.
The blowback was swift, and the Maine Democratic Party began discussing how to choose Platner’s replacement before he even announced publicly that he intended to withdraw from the race. Our elections reporter, Matt Junker, turned to Maine’s law library and the secretary of state’s office to better understand what statute says about replacing a candidate in this type of circumstance. You can read all about his findings.
Then Matt — with help from Fitzgerald reporting fellow Megan Blonigen and Ida B. Wells reporting intern Abi Brissett — put together a list of who’s in the running to replace Platner. Check it out.
If you want a reprieve from politics, environment reporter Delger Erdenesanaa has an update on this spring’s alewife runs. (It was an odd year.)
Religion reporter Sean Scott detailed the implications of a federal court ruling concerning private religious schools that get public funds. Plus, please congratulate all six of our reporters who won awards from the National Newspaper Association Foundation on Tuesday!
— Erin
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Graham Platner is out. What comes next?: While Maine law is crystal clear about the timing of replacing a nominee, it leaves the nuts and bolts of the selection process up to political parties. Read this story by Matt Junker |
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Jay data center developer sought to give Janet Mills ‘cover’ for key veto, emails show: Emails obtained by the BDN show a developer solicited local letters of support to give Gov. Janet Mills “cover” for her veto of a statewide data center ban. Read this story by Daniel O'Connor of The Maine Monitor and Bangor Daily News |
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Who’s in the mix to replace Graham Platner. And who isn’t: A host of candidates have come forward to say they would like to be the next Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, a choice that must be made by July 27. Read this story |
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Meet 16 obscure Maine Democrats shaping the replacement of Graham Platner: A retired art teacher, a candidate’s husband and a finance executive will be among those playing an influential role in the process. Read this story by Daniel O'Connor of The Monitor and BDN |
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Religious schools that get public funds must follow Maine’s antidiscrimination laws, court rules: A federal appeals court upheld a lower court’s ruling that private religious schools receiving public funds cannot discriminate based on gender identity, sexual orientation or religion. But it said a provision about religious expression should be revisited. Read this story by Sean Scott |
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Alewives returned late to smaller Maine rivers this year: More alewives appeared in larger rivers, though conservationists said climate change could threaten the iconic fish’s habitat long term. Read this story by Delger Erdenesanaa |
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How pollsters are changing their approach to Maine: Polling firms are tweaking their designs, finding new ways to reach people and reassessing who they predict will turn out to vote in an attempt to avoid repeating mistakes made in 2020. Read this story by Kate Kaufman |
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The Maine Monitor wins 5 awards from the National Newspaper Association Foundation: Reporter Josh Keefe took home both first- and second-place investigative reporting awards. Read this story |
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Washington County Manager Renée Gray threatens to sue county if her termination is not rescinded. Read this story by Judith Meyer |
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Jackman’s Critical Access Integrated Paramedics program set to resume after 2-year pause. Read this story by Makayla Morello |
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Kingfield voters to decide on moratorium tied to proposed Bowdoin College campsite. Read this story by Ashton F. LeCraw |
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Waterville City Council considers downtown paid parking to boost municipal revenue. Read this story by Makayla Morello |
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Machias passes cannabis moratorium to review 2024 ordinance. Read this story by Evan W. Houk |
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Wilton Board of Selectpersons approves Blueberry Festival seating extension as property disagreements surface. Read this story by Bob Neal |
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Jonesport considers zoning changes to extend Kingfish project deadline. Read this story by Jessica Brockington |
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Calais City Council orders 5 percent spending cut to fight deficit. Read this story by Melissa S. Razdrih |
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Wilton restaurant co-owner demands town code officer be fired. Read this story by Bob Neal |
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Machias Select Board approves using Town Office as warming and cooling center in extreme weather. Read this story by Evan W. Houk |
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Property revaluation delays Rangeley tax bills, but Sept. 1 due date remains. Read this story by Ashton F. LeCraw |
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Machias Select Board upholds ambulance worker’s removal. Read this story by Evan W. Houk |
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Have feedback, a correction or know of something we should look into? Send it to our newsroom. You can also email The Monitor's editors: editors@themainemonitor.org.
The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization that produces investigative journalism. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support. |
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