“Republican megadonor Ken Griffin said at a private conference Wednesday that he’d support Secretary of State Marco Rubio over Vice President JD Vance in a 2028 GOP presidential primary,” Axios reports.

“Democrats’ top Senate super PAC said it was ‘committed’ to defeating GOP Sen. Susan Collins now that Graham Platner has suspended his campaign,” Politico reports.

“Graham Platner has not yet officially submitted the paperwork to withdraw from the Senate race, according to a spokesperson for Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ office,” Politico reports.

Said a spokesperson: “A public declaration is not an official withdrawal, and a candidate must formally withdraw to the Elections office in writing, including signature.”

“Graham Platner, the populist political newcomer who Democrats had hoped could flip a critical U.S. Senate seat in Maine, ended his campaign Wednesday night after a woman he previously dated publicly accused him of sexual assault,” the Washington Post reports.

Said Platner in a video: “We believe for the movement to continue, it can’t be me and for that reason, we are suspending campaign operations.”

“President Donald Trump told reporters that the firestorm engulfing Maine oysterman Graham Platner is ‘really a question of whether you believe the woman’ who accused him of sexual assault,” Politico reports.

Said Trump: “It’s very hard for them to do. It’s really a question of whether you believe the woman. A lot of people say big falsehoods. It’s a — he’s in a bind. He’s in a bind. But should they be able to do it? Well, I guess he’s going to lose. I would imagine he’s going to lose.”

He added: “It’s very interesting when a Republican woman came out with the same charge, nobody believed her. When this woman came out, everybody believed her.”

“The Maine Democratic Party approved tentative plans for a nominating convention in the event Senate candidate Graham Platner drops out of the race, it announced Wednesday evening,” Politico reports.

“The convention would include roughly 600 people who would be selected by county-level Democratic committees… Every county committee would have to meet prior to the state nominating convention to elect 500 of those delegates, and the 100 current state committee members will also serve as delegates.”

Washington Post: 9 possible candidates who could replace Platner on Maine’s ballot. 

“Democratic frustration and worries were growing on Wednesday as Graham Platner hung on to the party’s nomination for Senate in Maine nearly 48 hours after a woman accused him of rape,” the New York Times reports.

“Despite losing every prominent ally and major sources of party funding, Mr. Platner has seemed to hold out hope of influencing the choice of his replacement in the state’s crucial Senate race.”