As Monday afternoon turned to evening, signs mounted that embattled Democrat Senate nominee Graham Platner would soon resign his party's nomination for the U.S. Senate in Maine.

Sources in Maine who spoke to Newsmax on background agreed that Platner — dogged by controversial online posts, charges of abusive behavior by women, and now a rape allegation by a former girlfriend — would relinquish his party's nomination to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins no later than Monday, July 13.

That date is significant because under State Statute 374-A, Subsection 1, Paragraph A dealing with vacancies in the general election, if a nominee for office withdraws "on or before 5 p.m. of the 2nd Monday in July preceding the general election," then "a political committee may make a replacement nomination for the general election."

Should Platner exit the race by July 13, the Democratic State Committee would have the opportunity to select a replacement no later than 5 p.m. of the fourth Monday in July (July 27) preceding the general election.

One potential replacement would be outgoing Gov. Janet Mills. Mills, 78, had announced her run for the Senate earlier this year but suspended her candidacy as momentum and endorsements for newcomer Platner piled up.

Also floated as a potential replacement for Platner is former Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon, who lost to Collins by 8 percentage points in 2020 despite outspending the incumbent 2-to-1.

Senate Democrats including Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts have withdrawn their endorsements of Platner since the rape allegation against him surfaced.

John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.