“The leading Senate Democratic super PAC and an affiliated nonprofit raised $147 million from April through June, the groups said, notching its best-ever second quarter haul as the party seeks to win back control of the upper chamber in this fall’s midterm elections,” the New York Times reports.

“Senate Majority PAC, the super PAC that is aligned with Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, brought in $58 million and entered July with $126 million in its account, more cash to spend than it has had at this point in previous election cycles.”

“A chaotic scramble is under way for Democrats to replace Graham Platner with a new nominee in the race for U.S. Senate from Maine, already drawing in more than half dozen candidates ranging from a brewer to an epidemiologist,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Since Platner announced he would leave the race Wednesday following a sexual-assault allegation, which he denies, Maine Democrats have found themselves in uncharted territory, rushing to craft a process that voters will find palatable and anoint a candidate who can defeat Republican Sen. Susan Collins.”

PBS: Who will replace Graham Platner on the ballot? 7 Democrats to watch.

“One of Graham Platner’s top political advisers said he and others suggested Platner drop out of the Maine Senate race when they ‘became aware of the rape allegations,’” Politico reports.

Said Katz: “As soon as the team became aware of the rape allegations against Graham Platner we advised he suspend his candidacy, and in the following days worked to wind down the campaign. Like so many of his supporters, I’m deeply disappointed.”

“AIPAC hoped it had ended former Rep. Cori Bush’s political career for good when it helped oust her two years ago. Now it’s spending big to stop her attempted comeback,” Axios reports.

“Why it matters: The left has high hopes that Bush can prevail in her rematch against Rep. Wesley Bell this cycle by riding the wave of anti-establishment energy coursing through the Democratic primary electorate.”

“Late last week, the rumors reached a fever pitch. Graham Platner, the Marine Corps veteran and oysterman who mounted a quixotic bid for the U.S. Senate in Maine, was used to controversy—headlines had been bad enough already, and his campaign aides spent much of their time dealing with lurid rumors. That there was a sex tape on the verge of leaking. That notes from his therapist were floating around,” Vanity Fair reports.

“On Friday, as fresh rumors of serious misconduct began to swirl, Morris Katz, one of Platner’s top strategists, took the first step toward ending the turbulent campaign. Fearing the worst, he contacted several pollsters to commission surveys for alternative candidates. Platner’s advisers, meanwhile, questioned the candidate directly on what they were hearing.

Said one: “We continued to ask Graham for the billionth time in this race if there was any information he had not shared. He continued to say no.”

“A poll of potential replacements for Graham Platner, who dropped out of the Maine Senate race on Wednesday, found a trio of former gubernatorial candidates in tight head-to-head battles against Republican Sen. Susan Collins,” NOTUS reports.

“The statewide poll  pitted Collins against Nirav Shah, Shenna Bellows and Troy Jackson. It found the potential contests at 47% for Shah to 46% for Collins; 47%-47% for Bellows versus Collins; and Jackson getting 47% to Collins’ 48%.”

“Graham Platner privately told staff that he is planning to officially file paperwork to end his Senate campaign on Monday — the drop-dead deadline for him to exit the race,” Axios reports.

“Why it matters: Though Democrats largely appear to think Platner is done with his bid, his last-minute timing is likely to cause a final pang of anxiety within the party.”