Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Guardian publishes explainer on 145 statewide ballot measures across 39 states in midterm elections — The Guardian reports on 145 statewide referendum measures voters will face in 39 states during the upcoming midterm elections. Key ballot initiatives include California's proposed billionaire wealth tax (Proposition 40), property tax measures in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Tennessee, trans athlete and medical care restrictions in five states, noncitizen voting requirements in six states, and abortion rights protections in Idaho, Nevada, and Virginia. The article notes the long-run passage rate for referendums is approximately 41%.

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• Trump endorsed Ramaswamy's ad attacking Acton using estranged mother's allegations — Trump publicly endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio gubernatorial campaign ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother making negative claims about her. At an Iowa rally, Trump stated he wished he could have run such an ad. When confronted by NBC reporter Monica Alba about the ad's use of allegations involving Acton's stepfather's rape charges and 50-year estrangement, Trump dismissed the context, refused to acknowledge the abuse allegations' relevance, and called Alba "a horrible little reporter." Ramaswamy defended the ad as addressing "lying" rather than abuse. The exchange highlighted Trump's willingness to amplify personal attacks regardless of underlying trauma or factual complexity.

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• Corporate PACs and executives funded Ramaswamy campaign ad attacking abuse survivor — Popular Information's analysis of campaign finance records reveals that Ramaswamy's campaign, which produced and aired the attack ad featuring abuse survivor Amy Acton's mother, received funding from corporate PACs and top executives of major American corporations including Bank of America, Deloitte, DraftKings, Kroger, and Nationwide. When contacted, DraftKings declined comment and other companies did not respond to inquiries about whether they found the ad acceptable.

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• Vivek Ramaswamy launches attack ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother — Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican candidate for Ohio governor, released a campaign advertisement featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother claiming Acton is a liar about her childhood. Acton has publicly documented severe childhood trauma, including living in a tent during winter while her stepfather—who had prior accusations of molestation—sexually abused her between ages 9 and 12. Her mother lost custody as a result. The ad drew immediate condemnation from Republicans, Democrats, strategists, and commentators across the political spectrum as exploitative and cruel.
• Ramaswamy campaign airs attack ad featuring abuse survivor's mother, funded partly by corporate PAC contributions — Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio gubernatorial campaign aired a television advertisement featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, attacking Acton's account of childhood sexual abuse. The ad, which began circulating Monday and was aired statewide Tuesday after $4 million spending commitment, has been condemned by Democratic and Republican officials as exploitative and morally indefensible. A Popular Information analysis of campaign finance records shows the ad was funded in part by corporate PAC contributions and executive donations from Bank of America, Deloitte, DraftKings, Kroger, and Nationwide.
• Vivek Ramaswamy releases attack ad using opponent's childhood trauma — Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released a political advertisement featuring the biological mother of his opponent, Dr. Amy Acton, claiming Acton lied about living in a tent as a child. Acton, who has not seen her biological mother since age 12 after being removed from her home following her mother's husband's indictment for rape, has documented evidence of her childhood homelessness. Court records confirm Acton's account. Vice President J.D. Vance defended the ad, while others, including former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, condemned it as morally corrupt.

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• Matt Gaetz named as defendant in civil sex trafficking lawsuit — Two women filed a civil lawsuit naming former Republican Representative Matt Gaetz, his associate Joel Greenberg, and others as defendants, alleging that from 2017 through January 2019, the defendants "coordinated recruitment, payments, drugs, and travel to obtain commercial sexual acts." The lawsuit references findings from a 2024 House Ethics Committee report that concluded Gaetz "regularly" paid women and a 17-year-old girl for sex and used illicit drugs while serving in Congress. Gaetz's response denied the allegations were accurate, stating he looked forward to depositions to challenge the claims.

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• Justice Department pursues case against Representative LaMonica McIver — The administration has an ongoing criminal case against New Jersey Representative LaMonica McIver, accusing her of assaulting immigration agents in a skirmish outside Delaney Hall detention center in which no one was hurt. If convicted, McIver faces up to 17 years in prison. Both Omar and McIver are women of color, and the cases represent attempts by the administration to intimidate Democratic representatives.

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• FDA extended safety review of mifepristone into 2027 — The FDA announced that its ongoing safety review of mifepristone, the nation's primary abortion pill, will continue into 2027. The agency stated a report on findings is expected no later than March 2027, after which it will decide whether to impose new restrictions on the drug. The review was ordered by RFK Jr. following pressure from anti-abortion groups and their congressional allies seeking to restrict the pill's use.

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• Cornell University sexual assault case sparks "I Am Jane Doe" nationwide movement — A Cornell University sexual assault case has sparked a nationwide social media movement. A woman identified as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit against Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity, and seven men she alleges drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2024. She alleges she was pressured into consuming ketamine and became too intoxicated to consent. CBS News obtained Snapchat messages from the assault in which fraternity members discussed the victim as available for sex. Cornell's investigation resulted in two students being expelled and two suspended for at least two semesters; another had already graduated before disciplinary action could be imposed, and two were found not responsible. None of the seven men were criminally charged. Jane Doe left Cornell without graduating.
• Thousands declare "I Am Jane Doe" on social media to protect victim anonymity — As the Cornell sexual assault case gained national attention, some social media users attempted to uncover Jane Doe's identity. In response, thousands of social media users identified themselves as Jane Doe, flooding social platforms with symbolic declarations to protect her anonymity and demand a thorough investigation and appropriate accountability.

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• Family of Tierra Walker sues Ken Paxton for wrongful death related to denied abortion — Attorneys for the family of Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old San Antonio woman who died in December 2024 while 20 weeks pregnant with pre-eclampsia, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Bexar County District Court on Tuesday. The suit names Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, individual doctors, and state health officials, alleging deliberate indifference and medical mistreatment. The family claims Walker and her relatives requested an abortion as her condition worsened, but doctors refused to provide it. The lawsuit also challenges Texas's abortion ban as unconstitutional.

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• ProPublica analysis documents increased ectopic pregnancy deaths in abortion-ban states — A ProPublica analysis found that nearly 200 women in the U.S. died from ectopic pregnancies between 2020 and 2025, compared with about 100 in the previous six years. The increase has been much steeper in states that banned abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, indicating that abortion restrictions are contributing to preventable maternal deaths.

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• Trump dismissed ABC reporter Rachel Scott during press availability — Trump snapped at ABC News reporter Rachel Scott when she attempted to ask questions about his proposed stimulus payments and tariff refund checks at the RNC convention in Dallas. He repeatedly told her "Not you" and called her "the worst," refusing to answer her questions. Video of the exchange spread widely on social media.
• Media analysis documented Trump's pattern of aggressive behavior toward female reporters — Newsweek and media scholars documented that Trump has engaged in a pattern of high-profile confrontations with female journalists during his second term. Communications lecturer Amy Tatum analyzed Trump's physical behavior toward Scott, noting he used hand gestures to dismiss her, stepped closer to her, and leaned in to make her stop talking—behavior she characterized as fitting a pattern of dismissing women and representing "a new, even more aggressive level of behavior."

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• Trump made remarks about young women in White House and Iran war sacrifice — At a rally in New York for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, Trump made comments objectifying young women in the White House, stated that Americans should accept higher gas prices as a sacrifice to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and declared his intention to declare the Hormuz Strait a U.S. territory after defeating Iran.

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• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announces egg-freezing procedure on Instagram — On Sunday, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced via Instagram that she is freezing her eggs at age 36, documenting the process including hormone injections. Conservative critics, including podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey and Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet, attacked the decision on social media, claiming it "glamorizes the lie that women can have it all" and contributes to falling fertility rates. Medical experts countered that age 36 is medically sound for egg freezing and that the criticism lacks factual basis.

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• Karoline Leavitt announces resignation as White House press secretary — Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Karoline Leavitt, his press secretary since January 2025, would depart at the end of August 2026 after 20 months in the role. Leavitt, 28, had served as Trump's most prominent spokesperson and won regular praise from the president for her unflinching defense of his agenda, but faced frequent criticism for amplifying misinformation, curbing press freedom, attacking reporters, and controlling media access to the White House briefing room.
• Trump announced White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is leaving — Trump announced on Truth Social that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is leaving her post by the end of August but will remain as one of the president's "top outside advisors." Leavitt, the youngest press secretary ever, welcomed far-right content creators into press briefings, lashed out at reporters, and argued that Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists who covered Russian interference should be stripped of their awards.
• Karoline Leavitt prepares to step down as Trump's fifth White House press secretary — Karoline Leavitt, 28, announced her resignation as White House press secretary effective end of August 2026, citing desire to spend more time with her family after returning from maternity leave in May. Trump announced the departure on Truth Social, saying Leavitt would become "one of my top outside advisors." Leavitt had served as the youngest White House press secretary since Trump's return to office in January 2025. No successor was named.
• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announces resignation — Karoline Leavitt, Donald Trump's fifth White House press secretary, is preparing to step down from her role after approximately 20 months of service. The Guardian analysis examines her tenure alongside her four predecessors, documenting a pattern in which each press secretary told significant falsehoods while representing the president. Leavitt's tenure began with a false claim about Biden administration plans to send condoms to Gaza, contradicted by USAID records. The article traces similar patterns across all five press secretaries, suggesting Trump prioritizes willingness to lie above other qualifications.
• — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced her resignation, stating she could not be "the best mom my two young children deserve" while holding the role. According to sources, Trump repeatedly called Leavitt during her brief maternity leave asking when she would return. Insiders reported the decision had been building for months due to the stress of the job and lack of sleep. Early contenders to replace her include Alina Habba, Breitbart DC Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle, former deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich, communications director Steven Cheung, Katie Miller, Scott Jennings, and Kari Lake.

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• Labor force participation declines; women account for majority of job losses — The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% as nearly one million people stopped looking for work over the past two months. Labor force participation has surrendered all gains since February 2021. According to the National Women's Law Center, women comprise the vast majority of the labor force decline.

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• Trump signs Executive Order 14418 restricting birthright citizenship based on parental status and commercial surrogacy. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14418 on August 6, 2026, implementing restrictions on birthright citizenship following the Supreme Court's June 30, 2026 decision in Trump v. Barbara. The order directs federal agencies to deny citizenship recognition to children born in the U.S. when neither parent is a citizen and one or more conditions apply: a parent is designated a terrorist or foreign government employee, parents engaged in commercial surrogacy or citizenship-purchase transactions, or the child was born in U.S. territories where federal statute does not confer citizenship. The Secretary of State, Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Commissioner of Social Security must ensure agency compliance within 30 days.
• Trump signs executive order restricting birth tourism and citizenship acquisition via childbirth on U.S. soil — President Trump signed Executive Order 14419 on August 6, 2026, establishing policy to prevent "birth tourism"—entry of foreign nationals on nonimmigrant visas for the purpose of giving birth in the United States. The order delegates authority to the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to deny visas, revoke travel authorization, bar entry, and remove aliens engaged in or facilitating birth tourism. The order defines birth tourism as entry via nonimmigrant visa for childbirth purposes or efforts to facilitate such entry. Secretaries may grant exemptions on humanitarian grounds or national interest.
• Trump issues executive order restricting birth tourism via nonimmigrant visas — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 6, 2026, directing the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to prevent foreign nationals from entering the United States on nonimmigrant visas for the purpose of giving birth. The order authorizes visa denial, revocation, permanent entry bars, and removal of individuals engaged in birth tourism, and permits sanctions against entities facilitating such schemes. The order defines birth tourism as entry via nonimmigrant visa to give birth or efforts to facilitate such entry, and allows exemptions on humanitarian or national-interest grounds.
• Trump issues executive order restricting birthright citizenship based on Supreme Court ruling — President Trump issued an executive order on August 6, 2026, implementing restrictions on birthright citizenship following the Supreme Court's June 30, 2026 decision in Trump v. Barbara. The order directs federal agencies to deny citizenship recognition to children born in the U.S. whose parents fall into specified categories: designated foreign terrorists, foreign government employees, those engaged in commercial transactions to obtain birthright citizenship, or those born in U.S. territories where citizenship is not conferred by statute. The order requires State Department, DOJ, DHS, and Social Security Administration to enforce compliance within 30 days.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14418 restricting birthright citizenship based on parental status — President Trump signed Executive Order 14418 on August 6, 2026, directing federal agencies to deny citizenship recognition to children born in the United States whose parents do not include a U.S. citizen, in four specified categories: when either parent is designated a terrorist or foreign government employee; when parents engaged in commercial transactions to secure birthright citizenship; or when birth occurs in U.S. territories where citizenship is not conferred by statute. The order cites the Supreme Court's June 2026 decision in Trump v. Barbara as legal foundation and directs State, Homeland Security, Justice, and Social Security to issue implementation guidance within 30 days.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14419 restricting entry and visa authorization for foreign nationals engaging in birth tourism — President Trump signed Executive Order 14419 on August 6, 2026, directing the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to prevent entry, deny visas, revoke travel authorization, and permanently bar foreign nationals who enter or attempt to enter the United States for the purpose of giving birth. The order defines birth tourism as entry via nonimmigrant visa for childbirth purposes and authorizes removal of those who previously engaged in or plan to engage in such activity. The order states it aims to protect immigration system integrity and prevent exploitation of nonimmigrant visa categories.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive orders restricting birthright citizenship and birth tourism — The White House published a fact sheet on August 6, 2026, announcing that President Trump signed two executive orders. The first identifies categories of children of aliens ineligible for birthright citizenship consistent with the Supreme Court's June 30, 2026 decision in Trump v. Barbara. The second delegates authority to the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security to halt birth tourism. The fact sheet claims the administration has deported over 3 million individuals, filed denaturalization claims against 88 people, and purged tens of thousands of individuals from voter rolls.
• Trump signs executive orders further restricting birthright citizenship — Trump signed two executive orders designed to further restrict eligibility for birthright citizenship and to prevent people from entering the U.S. to give birth. The orders target four groups of children and are likely to face legal challenges. They come just over a month after the Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship as constitutionally protected.
• Trump signed two new executive orders targeting birthright citizenship — Trump signed two executive orders targeting birthright citizenship 37 days after the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in Trump v. Barbara that his first-day 2025 order was unlawful and violated the Fourteenth Amendment. One new order expands categories of people deemed ineligible for birthright citizenship; the other targets "birth tourism." Trump called the Supreme Court decision "very unfortunate" and stated the administration is "making adjustments."
• Trump signs executive orders targeting birthright citizenship after Supreme Court rejection — On Thursday, August 7, 2026, President Trump signed two executive orders seeking to restrict birthright citizenship protections under the 14th Amendment. The first order expands categories of children ineligible for automatic US citizenship to include children of members of "foreign terrorist organizations" and certain foreign government employees, and denies citizenship to children whose parents engaged in fraudulent activity. The second order targets "birth tourism" by directing federal agencies to prosecute operators arranging such travel. Both orders face expected legal challenges, coming weeks after the Supreme Court rejected Trump's initial, broader attempt to deny citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants and temporary visa holders.
• Trump signs new birthright citizenship order — Former President Donald Trump signed a new executive order aimed at altering the interpretation of birthright citizenship in the United States. This order challenges the current understanding of the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. The order is expected to face legal challenges and could potentially reach the Supreme Court for a final decision on its constitutionality.

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• Congressional ethics committee launches investigation into Max Miller over domestic abuse allegations — The House ethics committee opened an investigation into Ohio Republican representative Max Miller following allegations that he engaged in domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use. Miller, a former White House aide, has denied the accusations and vowed not to resign despite mounting pressure from fellow Republicans, including Senator Bernie Moreno (his ex-father-in-law), who called him unfit for Congress. The investigation was announced as a deadline approached for party leaders to select a potential replacement candidate.

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• Complaint filed — Rahman Petit v. Blanche (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-02765) — Anam Rahman Petit, a former immigration judge at DOJ's Executive Office for Immigration Review, filed suit in D.D.C. challenging her termination effective September 9, 2025, which occurred days before her conversion to permanent status. Petit alleges DOJ violated Title VII by removing her based on sex, race, and national origin, and violated the First Amendment by terminating her based on Democratic affiliation and prior association with immigrants' rights organizations. She seeks reinstatement, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, and declaratory relief. DOJ's EEO office had dismissed her administrative complaint on May 11, 2026, asserting the Attorney General's Article II removal power placed the matter beyond Title VII's scope.

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• Trump and Speaker Johnson publicly defend congressman facing domestic abuse allegations — President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) publicly defended Congressman Max Miller against domestic abuse allegations documented in court filings and reported by The Daily Mail. Trump called Miller "a very good person" on August 3, 2026, and stated he would "let the families figure that out." Speaker Johnson dismissed the allegations as routine, saying "There's all sorts of domestic events going on with 435 members of Congress all the time, it's not my business to get engaged in it." Both statements came after Miller's ex-wife Emily Moreno provided photographic evidence of injuries and detailed court filings describing physical abuse incidents.

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• House Ethics Committee Recommends Censure of Rep. Chuck Edwards — The House Ethics Committee has formally found that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) sexually harassed young female staffers. Following a lengthy investigation, the committee recommended that Edwards be censured by the House. The committee concluded there was substantial reason to believe Edwards violated House Rules related to sexual harassment and hostile workplaces. Edwards has agreed to waive certain procedural steps, allowing the committee to recommend a House-level sanction for his conduct.
• House ethics committee recommends censure of Rep. Chuck Edwards for sexual harassment — The US House ethics committee, in a bipartisan report, recommended censure of Republican congressman Chuck Edwards (North Carolina) after determining he "fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment" toward two young female staffers. The committee found Edwards singled out the women for special treatment—including gifts, late-night texts, private dinners, and paid trips—that made them uncomfortable and harmed office morale. Both staffers resigned. Edwards acknowledged some behavior could be viewed as inappropriate but denied responsibility for harm. His campaign rejected the findings.

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• Ohio senators call for congressman's resignation over domestic abuse allegations — On August 2, 2026, U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH), father of Congressman Max Miller's ex-wife Emily Moreno, called on Miller to resign from Congress, stating "If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them." Moreno cited "a clear pattern of abuse" and called for Miller to "seek professional help." Ohio's other U.S. Senator, Jon Husted (R), also called on Miller to step down. The calls for resignation followed The Daily Mail's publication of domestic abuse allegations and court filings documenting physical assault incidents.
• Senator Bernie Moreno calls for Rep. Max Miller to resign over domestic abuse allegations — Ohio Republican Senator Bernie Moreno publicly called for Representative Max Miller to step down from Congress on Sunday, citing allegations of domestic and child abuse made by his daughter Emily Moreno, Miller's ex-wife. Morero stated Miller "fails" basic character standards and should "seek professional help." Miller responded the same day via livestream, denying all allegations and stating no court or agency has substantiated abuse claims against him, and he would remain in his re-election race ahead of Wednesday's ballot deadline.
• Max Miller faces domestic abuse allegations and calls to resign from Ohio Republican leadership — Ohio Congressman Max Miller, facing domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife Emily Moreno (daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno), received a public call to resign from Senator Moreno on Sunday via X post. Moreno accused Miller of pointing a gun at her head, pouring hot water on her, potentially breaking their daughter's collarbone, and physically attacking her attorneys. Miller has denied all allegations and blamed the media and his ex-wife. The allegations have weakened Miller's political standing ahead of the November midterm election, with the Ohio Republican Party having until August 12 to replace him as a candidate.

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• Defense Secretary Hegseth announces testosterone deficiency screening program for military personnel — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new Department of Defense screening program for testosterone deficiency targeting service members aged 30 and older. The program will conduct annual testosterone tests as part of health assessments, with voluntary treatment including testosterone replacement therapy available. Hegseth framed the initiative as supporting "maximum psychological and mental readiness" and "lethality" on the modern battlefield. The announcement did not address the 231,000 women serving as active duty service members.
• Hegseth announced mandatory testosterone screening program for service members — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new mandatory annual screening program to test all service members age 30 and older, including women, for testosterone deficiency. Hormone treatment for troops with low testosterone will be voluntary. Troops under 30 can volunteer for screening. Hegseth framed the initiative as restoring "natural capability" and maintaining tactical advantage, calling it a "High-T Department of War."
• Pete Hegseth announced testosterone screening program for service members — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of Defense will offer testosterone deficiency screenings to service members age 30 and older, with treatment available for those who want it. The Atlantic reported that the program is not medically necessary and has no connection to military readiness, but rather serves to project a particular image of masculinity.

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• EEOC rescinds affirmative action guidelines under Title VII — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a final interpretive rule rescinding its 1979 Guidelines on Affirmative Action Appropriate Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC determined the Guidelines are inconsistent with Title VII's plain text, obsolete given 46+ years of subsequent caselaw, limited to affirmative action benefiting only women and minorities, and potentially conflict with recent Supreme Court precedent and constitutional equal protection guarantees. The rescission removes 29 CFR Part 1608 from the Code of Federal Regulations, effective immediately, eliminating the statutory defense under Section 713(b) for employers relying on the Guidelines in good faith.

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• Trump petitions Supreme Court for reconsideration of appeal denial — Trump filed a petition with the US Supreme Court on 6 July requesting reconsideration of the Court's 29 June decision not to review his appeal in the E Jean Carroll case. Trump's legal team cited this pending rehearing petition as grounds to delay the release of the $5.8 million judgment, arguing that ordering payment before the petition was resolved would cause him "irreparable harm."
• Trump's legal team sought to delay E. Jean Carroll judgment payment — Trump's legal team attempted to delay payment of a $5.7 million judgment owed to E. Jean Carroll following a Supreme Court ruling on or before July 8, 2026. This represents a continued effort to avoid compliance with a court-ordered financial penalty.

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• Maine Democratic Senate Nominee Graham Platner Faces Sexual Assault Allegations and Expected Withdrawal — Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, faced public allegations of sexual assault from a woman named Jenny Racicot, who detailed an alleged non-consensual sexual encounter in late 2021. Politico reported that Racicot provided corroborating documentation including emails with her therapist and messages warning others about Platner. Platner denied the allegations in a video statement. Multiple major supporters withdrew endorsements immediately. A CNN story with additional allegations was reported to be forthcoming. The Democratic Party faced a one-week deadline to replace Platner on the ballot before the deadline would pass.
• Graham Platner faces sexual assault allegation; Democrats weigh replacement options — Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, faced a sexual assault allegation reported by Politico on Monday, July 7. While Platner denied the claims and said he was "taking time to reflect," senior Democrats withdrew endorsements and the party's Senate fundraising vehicle halted spending in Maine pending his withdrawal. State law requires Platner to end his campaign by July 13 at 5pm ET for a replacement to appear on the November ballot, creating a two-week selection window. Potential replacements include Nirav Shah, Shenna Bellows, and Troy Jackson.
• Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner paused campaign fundraising and advertising amid calls to exit race — Graham Platner's campaign for Maine Senate canceled in-person fundraisers and paused online advertising on Facebook and Instagram following widespread calls from Democrats, including nearly all high-profile former supporters and a majority of Senate Democrats, to drop out. Maine state law requires candidates to exit by July 13 if they choose to withdraw; the state Democratic Party would then select a replacement by July 27.
• Bernie Sanders calls on Graham Platner to withdraw from Maine Senate race — Bernie Sanders, an early and influential backer of Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner in Maine, publicly called on him to withdraw from the race on Tuesday, citing "very serious allegations" of sexual assault. The call came hours before a second sexual misconduct allegation was reported. Multiple prominent Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, also urged Platner to step aside. Platner has denied all allegations and said he is "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward."
• Democrats move to replace Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner — New developments emerged in the Maine Senate race as Democrats moved to replace Graham Platner as their candidate on or before July 8, 2026. The article does not provide details of the reasons for the replacement or the process underway.