Graham Platner on Friday posted a letter to the Maine secretary of state formally withdrawing his candidacy as the Democratic nominee for Senate.

He had been expected to do so on Monday, ahead of the deadline to drop out and allow the party to select a new nominee. 

"I write to formally withdraw my candidacy for United States Senate," the letter reads. Much of the letter highlights what he believes to be the appetite of Mainers for a solidly progressive candidate.

"My name may have been on the ballot, but that ballot line belongs to the people of Maine," he added. "As such, please consider this notice as my official withdrawal from consideration for this office. F*ck ICE. Free Palestine. Up the Hearts. Solidarity forever, Graham Platner."

Platner's campagin was rocked by scandal, including a sexual assault allegation, extramarital sexting, a Nazi Totenkopf tattoo, and obscene Reddit posts.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.