Good Thursday evening. In this edition: Platner bows out of Maine Senate race, setting off scramble to find a new nominee.
Plus, reflecting pool case, Trump rebrandings and Kirk murder hearing.
Maine Senate Race
Graham Platner withdrew from the U.S. Senate race in Maine on Wednesday night, setting up a scramble to replace him as the Democratic nominee in the key battleground state with major implications for the balance of power.
The populist oysterman had weathered a series of scandals since launching his campaign, but a rape allegation published by Politico on Monday was the final straw for supporters and Democratic officials, who demanded he bow out.
Mr. Platner vehemently denied the allegations in an 11-minute video posted to social media, calling them "false" and "not real," but said pressure from state and national Democrats had made it impossible for his campaign to continue.
"This is incredibly difficultbecause I know that some will think it's an admission of guilt, and it most certainly is not," he said. "We're not doing it because of the allegations. We're doing it because of the structures that are being taken away from us by those in power."
His exit sets up a scramble to select a new nominee to take on Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in November as she seeks a sixth term.
Both parties view the race as critical to their chances of controlling the Senate, which, in turn, will have a significant impact on the final two years of President Trump's second term.
Mr. Platner, who defeated Maine Gov. Janet Mills in last month's Democratic primary with 72% of the vote, called for an "open, transparent and democratic" process to replace him, saying the decision shouldn't be left to party officials.
"My name might be on the ballot right now, but that ballot line belongs to the people of Maine," he said.
The Maine Democratic Partysaid it will select a replacement nominee at a nominating convention and that details about the timeline and process will be announced "soon."
Under state law, the party must choose its new nominee by July 27, leaving little time for campaigning and vetting, which has taken on increased importance following Mr. Platner's scandal-ridden campaign.
About a half-dozen candidates have already announced campaigns or expressed interest in the nomination, including several who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for governor or U.S. Senate last month.
So far, candidates include former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Nirav Shah, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, Maine Beer Company founder Dan Kleban and former Capitol Hill staffer Jordan Wood.
For the party to move forward with a replacement nominee, Mr. Platner will need to officially file paperwork with the state by 5pm ET Monday, something he has yet to do.
Mr. Platnerprivately told staff members he plans to do so Monday, but the delay is likely to cause some anxiety among party officials, who want to quickly move on from the saga and unite behind a new nominee.
David Hearn, a three-time Olympic canoeist, pleaded not guilty to a felony charge that could land him in prison for up to 10 years for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. "Today, Davey Hearn pled not guilty, because he is not guilty," Norm Eisen, one of his attorneys, told reporters outside DC Superior Court. "If Mr. Hearn can be charged with a felony for touching the reflecting pool, every American is at risk — and every American should be alarmed about this prosecution." Mr. Hearn was indicted last week for what U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirrocalled a "deliberate act" that damaged at least two square feet of the reflecting pool's sealant. Mr. Eisen called the case an "outrageous" abuse of prosecutorial resources and an effort by the administration to "scapegoat" him for the condition of the pool, which was quickly plagued by chipping lining and algae blooms following the recent renovations.
The Palm Beach International Airport has officially been renamed the "President Donald J. Trump International Airport," marking the first time an airport has been named after a sitting president. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed a bill into law earlier this year authorizing the change. "While we recognize that the required name change may be received in different ways by our passengers, we're grateful for your continued support through this transition period," the airport wrote on its website. "While some things may evolve over time, our core focus remains the same: providing a safe, reliable and welcoming airport experience." Separately, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessentjoined state and federal lawmakers in Dandridge, Tennessee, to unveil a new sign renaming a bridge on Interstate 40 the "President Donald J. Trump Bridge." "There is no one more deserving of it than Donald J. Trump," Secretary Bessent said.
Tyler Robinsonadmitted to friends that he had assassinated Charlie Kirk before turning himself in to police, according to evidence presented by prosecutors at a preliminary hearing in Provo, Utah. Mr. Kirk, the conservative activist who founded Turning Point USA, was fatally shot last September while speaking at Utah Valley University. The hearing is intended to determine whether prosecutors have met the legal burden to take Mr. Robinson to trial, a threshold they are expected to clear. Mr. Robinson, who has not entered a plea, is charged with aggravated murder and could face the death penalty if convicted.
For your radar…
The Iowa Republican Party hosts its annual Lincoln Dinner on Friday, with remarks from Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn (R). Watch LIVE on C-SPAN2 at 7pm ET.
