The Maine Democratic Party announced on Wednesday plans to hold a nominating convention to select its candidate for U.S. Senate as former nominee Graham Platner’s decision to exit the race threatens to derail efforts to flip the seat blue. 

Platner ended his Senate campaign to oust Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on Wednesday evening, just days before Democrats’ Monday deadline to replace his name on the ballot in the general election to challenge the incumbent Republican lawmaker. Platner’s move came after his campaign bled support due partly to allegations he raped an ex-girlfriend, claims that he denied, saying his exit was “because of the structures that are being taken away from us by those in power.”