Maine state Rep. Valli Geiger, a Rockland Democrat, former nurse and former mayor, is drawing sudden national attention after saying embattled Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner encouraged her to consider taking his place on the ballot in the Maine Senate race if he withdraws.

Geiger has not been named the replacement nominee, and Platner has not formally dropped out. However, her name entered the Maine Senate scramble after she told local outlet WMTW that Platner called her Monday night, praised her as a «fighter» and asked whether he could put her name forward. Platner’s campaign told the outlet he had not made an endorsement decision but confirmed he encouraged Geiger to consider running if he stepped aside.

After Geiger said Platner called her about potentially putting her name forward, Geiger posted Tuesday she would not «throw Graham under the bus,» while also saying she would not «slander or accuse» Jenny Racicot, the woman who accused Platner of rape, «of anything more than telling the truth as she experienced it.» 

By Wednesday, local outlets were reporting that Geiger said Platner had encouraged her to consider running if he withdrew. Platner has denied the claim.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IF PLATNER DROPS OUT? HERE’S WHO COULD REPLACE HIM ON THE BALLOT AND HOW IT COULD WORK

Geiger is a third-term Democratic state representative from Rockland, according to her legislative biography, representing a coastal House district in Maine that includes Rockland, Criehaven Township, Matinicus Isle Plantation, the Muscle Ridge Islands, North Haven and part of Owls Head. Her biography says she serves on the Labor Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.

Before entering the state legislature, Geiger served six years on the Rockland City Council, including one year as mayor and four years on the Rockland Comprehensive Planning Commission, three of them as chair. 

Her biography says she holds a master’s degree in sustainable design and built her own passive-solar, net-zero-energy house. It also describes her as a former nurse at Pen Bay Medical Center who later worked as a health policy analyst and health administrator, including as director of the Healthreach Hospice program and clinical director for Federally Qualified Health Centers around Maine.

The Maine State Capitol May 18, 2026, in Augusta, Maine. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

PLATNER CAMPAIGN PUTTING ‘THUMB ON SCALE’ TO INFLUENCE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT, MAINE DEM ALLEGES

Geiger’s connection to Platner predates the latest replacement speculation. Local reporting has described her as a close Platner supporter, and WMTW reported she previously stood with him and credited him with helping secure funding for rape kit tracking in Maine.

In her Facebook post responding to Racicot’s allegation, Geiger wrote that Racicot’s story «seems credible» but added that «none of us knows the truth nor will we ever.» She also described Platner as «a man becoming a better man» and said she had hoped he would lead the political movement his campaign had built and will not «throw Graham under the bus.»

In the post, Geiger also praised Platner’s «passion for economic populism» and said she had granted him «an enormous amount of grace» for his behavior during what she described as his «dark years» after multiple deployments.

Dr. Nirav D. Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks during a news conference about COVID-19 at Maine Emergency Management Agency in Augusta. (Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)

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The Maine state representative is not the only Democrat whose name has surfaced as Maine Democrats prepare for the possibility that Platner exits the race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. 

Several Democrats have expressed interest or are considering bids, including former gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah.

Under Maine law, if Platner formally withdraws as the Democratic nominee by 5 p.m. on July 13, the Maine Democratic Party can replace him on the general election ballot by selecting a new nominee through its party process, with the replacement required to be chosen by July 27.

Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Graham Platner, the embattled Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, suspended his campaign on Wednesday amid mounting controversies and growing calls from top Democrats in his home state, in the nation’s capital, and across the country for him to immediately quit the race.

Platner, a populist Democrat backed last September by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was challenging longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a high-profile, combustible and expensive race in Maine, which is one of a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November’s midterm elections.

«For the movement to continue, it can’t be me. For that reason, we are suspending campaign operations,» Platner said in a video posted to social media.

Platner’s exit from the race comes five days before a crucial deadline, which, if he had missed, would have prevented Maine Democrats from replacing him with a new nominee on the general election ballot.

The suspension of his campaign took place one month after Platner won a landslide victory in Maine’s June 9 Democratic Senate primary, but just two days after an explosive report on Monday afternoon contained an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated. 

SCANDAL-PLAGUED PLATNER CAPTURES DEMOCRATIC SENATE NOMINATION DESPITE MOUNTING CONTROVERSIES

Addressing those allegations, a visibly irritated Platner charged, «This is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It is not real.»

And Platner, who has run an outsider, anti-establishment campaign for nearly a year, pointed to the political class and argued, «the brutal political reality is they are going to take everything away from us.»

Platner said that if he continued his bid, he’d lose the ability to raise money and access crucial voter data, essential elements to any campaign.

«Those in power who have the ability to do so are using these allegations as an excuse to take away all the things that we need to run a campaign,» he charged.

Longtime Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, following Platner’s announcement, said in a post on X, «Democrats are going to defeat Susan Collins, win Maine, and take back the Senate.»

The Marine Corps combat veteran and oyster farmer became the all-but-certain party nominee in the spring, after two-term Gov. Janet Mills, who had been backed by Schumer and the Democratic establishment, suspended her bid after significantly trailing Platner in fundraising and polling.

Two-term Democratic Gov. Janet Mills of Maine ended her 2026 Senate bid in the spring after trailing Graham Platner in public opinion polling and fundraising. (Getty Images)

Platner’s suspension of his campaign comes just before a 5 p.m. deadline on Monday, July 13, set by state law, for candidates to withdraw from the race.

Since Platner dropped out ahead of the deadline, the Maine Democratic Party will be able to replace him on the general election ballot. The party needs to select a new nominee by July 27.

If Platner had exited the race after the deadline, his name could be stricken from the ballot, but Maine Democrats would not be able to replace him with another candidate. 

The Maine Democratic Party on Tuesday night, in a stunning announcement, said that party officials were working «around the clock» to determine a replacement process, but claimed that Platner and his team were trying «to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like.»

Platner’s team, responding, said they had reached out to the party but denied they were trying to put any «finger on the scale.» 

A couple of hours before Platner dropped out, the state party announced it would hold a nominating convention to choose a new Senate nominee, if Platner were to exit the race.

That didn’t appear to sit well with Platner, who in his video said, «What comes next needs to come from the people. Needs to come from the people of Maine. Needs to come from the voters who on June 9….said no to this kind of politics. Voted for a politics that would actually represent them. Vote against the political system. Against the donor class. Against the entrenched forces.»

«I’m not asking for how this process is going to work. I’m not trying to dictate to anyone how it should be or how we get there,» he emphasized. «But I will say this, it needs to be open, transparent, and democratic. It needs to be reflective of the will and the values of the people that built this movement, the people that showed up on June 9. People in DC should stay in DC. Decisions should not be made in backrooms by people in places of political power.»

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner stood together during a «Fighting Oligarchy» tour stop at the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine campus on May 24, 2026, in Orono, Maine. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The allegation that triggered Platner’s exit from the race came from Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, who told CNN’s Jake Tapper that «by dictionary definition» Platner «raped» her.

«I thought, here’s a man who was drunk and who, by dictionary definition, raped me. And he’s blaming drunk women,» Racicot said. «So I just felt like that was a very odd take to have on that. And I also feel like with all of the comments that he made about women, sexual assault, rape, even, um, you know, the comments that he had made that was in The New York Times article about, you know, threatening people with rape, like, why does this person have this issue, like scattered throughout their life, throughout their commentary, like it‘s on their mind?»

Racicot also said over the course of three interviews with Politico that Platner forced her to have sex five years ago against her will, a claim that Platner denied in the Politico story. Additionally, the report says that a man Racicot dated afterward confirmed she had told him about the incident, which was also corroborated by emails between Racicot and her therapist. 

«I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,» Racicot told the outlet about the incident, which allegedly took place while Platner was «almost blackout drunk.» «I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’»

Racicot alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited and forced her to have unprotected sex despite her telling him to stop multiple times. 

Graham Platner, the Democrats’ presumptive Senate nominee in Maine, holds an energy event in Ellsworth on May 11. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

Racicot said in the report that «one of the reasons» she didn’t come forward until now was the «huge moral conflict» she had between her support of Platner’s politics and not supporting him «as a person.»

«I just want the truth out there,» Racicot said. «I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person.»

In a statement to Politico, Platner said, «These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue.»

The Platner campaign also posted a video on X shortly after the Politico story published where Platner again called the allegations «false» and that he was going to «reflect» on the best path forward. 

«So, regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,» Platner says in the video. «Those were the goals when we launched this campaign, and they remain my goals today.»

Platner was hit with a second explosive allegation of sexual impropriety on Tuesday. In a report published by The Washington Post, Platner was accused of removing condoms during sex with his ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield after she explicitly directed him to wear them.

Fifield, 41, previously accused Platner of physical misconduct during their relationship, saying that he sometimes grabbed her hard enough to leave marks on her body and that one time he twisted her arm around her back, pushed her into a bedroom and held the door shut until she «calmed down.»

In a statement to The Washington Post, the Platner campaign said that Fifield’s latest allegations were «categorically false and politically motivated,» as they pointed to her previous work for the conservative Heritage Foundation.

And in his Wednesday night video, Platner reiterated that he wasn’t suspending his campaign «because of allegations. We’re doing it because of structures that are being taken away from us by those in power.»

One of the party organizations Platner railed against, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), pledged in a statement that it would «work tirelessly to ensure the new Democratic nominee has the infrastructure and resources to immediately turn their focus to the general election, and in November we will defeat Susan Collins and win a Senate majority.»

Meanwhile, Republicans quickly pounced after Platner’s announcement.

«Maine Democrats elected a rapist Nazi to be their nominee for Senate, and regardless of who they anoint next, Susan Collins will be re-elected in November,» National Republican Senatorial Committee Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell charged in a statement.

Alex Latchum, executive director of the Senate GOP-aligned super PAC Senate Leadership Fund, argued that  at the 11th hour, the Democrat Establishment has tipped the scales against Maine voters in an attempt to salvage their failing midterm strategy. Regardless of who Washington Democrats install, Senator Susan Collins will win in November.» 

Moderate Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a vocal Platner critic, said in an interview Wednesday night on Fox News  «Jesse Watters Primetime» that «the trash took itself out tonight.»

Platner was forced onto defense the past couple of months amid multiple controversies that muddied the final days of his primary campaign and overshadowed his victory.

Past inflammatory online comments made on a now-deleted Reddit account came back to haunt him at the same time he was reeling from revelations of a now covered-up tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol. Then reports that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married came right before allegations from ex-girlfriends of a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes.

Platner repeatedly called the allegations of violence untrue.

A day before the primary last month, a former high-level staffer from the Platner campaign wrote in a Washington Post op/ed that Platner «is not someone who would be good for Maine or for the country.»

The mounting controversies grabbed plenty of attention, gave Republicans more ammunition to use against him and triggered some Democrats in the nation’s capital to question whether Platner was damaged goods.

But the allegations didn’t stop him from riding a populist wave to capture the nomination.

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Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner and his wife, Amy Gertner, wave to supporters as they arrive at Platner’s primary election event in Blue Hill, Maine, on June 9. (CJ Gunther/Getty Images)

Platner, who had acknowledged his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his three tours of duty in the war in Iraq with the Marines and one tour with the Army National Guard in Afghanistan, apologized for his controversial Reddit posts after some of them made headlines last fall soon after he launched his Senate campaign.

And Platner said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007, while drinking with fellow Marines stationed in Croatia. He said that he covered up the tattoo with a new design after learning last year that it resembled a Nazi symbol.

But allegations from an ex-girlfriend raised questions about Platner’s timeline regarding knowledge of the tattoo.

In his primary night victory speech, Platner emphasized that he was a changed man.

«If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change,» Platner told the crowd. «And the reason I believe that is because I have lived it. And the reason that I have lived it is because of my wife.»

THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE’S MAJORITY

Rumors about Platner potentially dropping out started swirling this past weekend, as multiple events by the candidate were canceled without an official explanation. The Bangor Daily News reported on Monday that one organizer said an event was canceled due to Platner «not feeling well.»

The news of the canceled events led conservative outlets and pundits to speculate whether there was an underlying reason for the cancelations or an impending end to his campaign.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine stands for an interview with Fox News Digital, Feb. 10, in Washington, D.C. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

Collins said in a statement, «These allegations are appalling. Nevertheless, it is not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate.» 

As Monday afternoon turned into Monday evening, a growing chorus of leading Democrats called on Platner to quit the race.

Schumer called the allegations in the Politico report «incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable.»

In a statement with Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Schumer emphasized, «Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins. The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.»

Senate Majority PAC, the Schumer-aligned top super PAC backing Senate Democratic incumbents and candidates, said it was «redirecting resources away from the Maine Senate race in light of the latest allegations against Graham Platner.»

The leadership of the Maine Democratic Party, in a statement, said it «is calling Graham Platner to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate.»

One of Platner’s top supporters in Congress, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, rescinded his endorsement.

«I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement,» Khanna wrote in a social media post.

Khanna, a top progressive leader in the House, told Fox News Digital as he campaigned with Platner in Maine days ahead of the primary that he was «concerned about making it clear that we’re opposed to misogyny, those relationships were toxic and volatile, there’s no excuse for that.»

«I talked to Graham, and he says he was at a very dark period. He had come back from two tours of duty in Iraq as an infantryman seeing violence and death. That doesn’t excuse it,» Khanna said last month.

Also dropping their endorsement on Monday was Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, who along with Khanna is considered a potential 2028 White House hopeful.

«The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious,» Gallego wrote on X. «I am rescinding my endorsement.»

So did progressive champion Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who had endorsed and appeared with Platner.

Our Revolution, a progressive political action organization founded by Sanders, announced it was withdrawing its endorsement of Platner.

On Tuesday, Sanders finally put out a statement.

«I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside,» the senator wrote.

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Platner, who launched his bid for U.S. Senate last summer, quickly started drawing large crowds and built a healthy fundraising war chest earlier this year, thanks, in part, to Sanders’ early support and the candidate’s tireless efforts on the trail.

Two polls conducted late last month indicated a close general election contest. A Fox News poll gave Collins a three-point edge, while a New York Times/Siena survey indicated Platner holding a two-point margin.

But beating Collins hasn’t been easy. Six years ago, public opinion polls indicated the senator was headed to defeat, but Collins defied expectations and won re-election by defeating then-Democratic state House Speaker Sara Gideon by nine points.

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Collins, a moderate Republican who at times votes against President Donald Trump’s agenda, is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate.

Republicans currently control the chamber 53-47 and flipping the Senate seat in left-leaning Maine is a key part of the Democrats’ path to retake the majority.

Fox News’ Olivia Palombo and Matthew Donnell contributed to this report

El cuerpo de Lucas Gámez, el niño argentino de nueve años al que buscaban desde hace 14 días en La Guaira, luego de los devastadores terremotos de Venezuela, fue encontrado este miércoles.

La información fue confirmada a Clarín por Guillermo Arana Leyton, jefe del operativo a cargo de la búsqueda del niño, en coordinación con los bomberos de Mérida. «Hace unos 40 minutos sacamos sin vida a Lucas. Muy doloroso», comentó Arana Leyton a este medio.

El rescatista comentó también que el padre del niño, Marco Gámez, les dio las gracias en el lugar. «Estaba muy, muy agradecido por el esfuerzo que hemos hecho durante todos estos días, sobre casi 24 horas de trabajo», indicó.

Lucas había ido a pasar el día en la playa -era feriado en Venezuela- a la casa de sus tíos en Caraballeda (La Guaira), que terminó siendo el epicentro del trágico doble sismo que hasta ahora ha dejado 3.685 muertos, más de 16.000 heridos y decenas de miles de desaparecidos.

Según la reconstrucción que pudieron hacer los padres, Blanca Martínez y Marco Gámez, en base al testimonio de un sobreviviente que lo vio, Lucas y su tío se habían subido al ascensor del edificio donde vivía el hombre, minutos antes de que se iniciara el sismo. La hipótesis de sus padres era que el niño debía haber llegado al departamento o se podría haber quedado en la zona de las escaleras y el pasillo -había subido hasta el piso 3° porque el ascensor no paraba en el 2°- cuando la estructura comenzó a temblar.

El caso de Lucas se viralizó en los primeros después de los terremotos, cuando su madre subió un video a sus redes sociales pidiendo ayuda para remover escombros.

«Necesitamos más gente que ayude, mano de obra masculina, maquinaria… Hay que traspasar unos muros. (…) Escuchamos sonidos, escuchamos quejidos de Lucas y también escuchamos los sonidos de un bebé de un año y medio que se llama Santiago», decía Martínez en el video.

Los padres mantenían la esperanza de encontrarlo con vida debido a que en el área se había encontrado rastros de calor corporal y del celular de Lucas. El lunes, el día que habría sido el cumpleaños de Lucas, un equipo de rescatistas había realizado una prueba de sonido con la voz de Blanca para intentar detectar alguna señal.

Martínez no perdía las esperanzas de encontrar a su hijo: «Escuchamos un par de cosas, pero bueno, puede ser que se está cayendo todo, propio del edificio. Tengo mucha fe, anoche conseguimos sacar una tortuguita. Sigue saliendo vida, hay aire ahí«, le dijo a C5N el lunes.

Este miércoles por la mañana, la madre de Lucas anunció que abandonaba las redes sociales por un tiempo, mientas continuaba la búsqueda de su hijo. «Es doloroso leer gente que opina sobre cómo debería llevar este proceso. O personas que critican que le cantamos el cumpleaños anoche. O peor aún, personas que creen que Lucas ua salió está en casa y su papá y yo armamos este show para salir en la TV», expresó.

Sin embargo, horas antes de que se conociera la noticia del hallazgo del cuerpo, Blanca había subido a su cuenta una storie con la foto del edificio destruido y la frase «Pido oraciones«.

Este lunes, Lucas habría cumplido 9 años y sus padres, quienes permanecen hace dos semanas en la zona del desastre, llevaron una torta y una vela, para cantar con los presentes.

El Capitán de Fragata de Infantería Marina, Luciano Gordillo, relató cómo fue la operación de búsqueda de Lucas Gámez, el niño argentino de 8 años que desapareció en La Guaira después de los terremotos.

Días atrás, el Capitán de Fragata de Infantería Marina, Luciano Gordillo, que lideró al contingente de rescatistas argentinos desplegado en Venezuela, había contado detalles de la operación de búsqueda: «Con Lucas estuvimos cuatro días, y cuando estuvimos trabajando, toda la delegación argentina le daba los bizcochitos [a Blanca Martínez] de las marcas argentinas, le preparábamos mate, para que sienta que Argentina la estaba cubriendo», contó Gordillo en TN.

Los padres de Lucas llegaron a la Argentina desde Venezuela en 2013, y vivieron en el país hasta 2025. En enero de este año, decidieron volver a su país natal.

Desde la desaparición de Lucas, los padres se habían instalado cerca del edificio, que quedó totalmente colapsado: «Dormimos en el auto o en una colchoneta que me dieron los vecinos, en el piso. Me traje ropa y cuando puedo me baño en la playa», contó Martínez días atrás en diálogo con C5N. La mujer incluso llegó a meterse entre los escombros de la estructura para hablarle a Lucas: «pedí entrar porque necesitaba que él me escuchara. Entré abajo con casco y empecé a gritar ‘estoy aquí, no te rindas, estamos acá con papá’», contó.