Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner is facing intense pressure from top party leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Maine Democratic Party, to withdraw from the race following a sexual assault allegation detailed in a bombshell Politico report. Platner has vehemently denied the accusation, labeling it “categorically false,” but stated his campaign is now reflecting on “the best path forward.”
Jenny Racicot, a Maine woman, told Politico that Platner, while intoxicated, entered her home without permission in late 2021 and forced himself on her. Racicot clarified that she and Platner had met on a dating app in 2019 and had engaged in consensual relations prior to the night of the alleged assault.
Expanding on her claims in a CNN interview, Racicot alleged that Platner raped her “by definition.” She explained, “He violated multiple layers of consent that night. By coming into my home when I asked him not to, and by advancing on me when I told him not to, and furthermore, another incident that I had told him not to do,” referencing his alleged refusal to use protection. Racicot recounted her state of mind during the incident, stating, “In that moment, I evaluated my safety. … I basically felt safest just complying.”
Platner has consistently denied the allegations, describing them as “troubling, serious and false.” His campaign released a statement asserting that the allegations were “coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives.” The campaign also claimed a pattern of attacks, stating, “For a year, opponents of this campaign have thrown everything they can at Graham –– calling him a Nazi, a war criminal, and a communist. None of it has been true and this is no different. It is not a coincidence that this story comes a week before the ballot deadline, just as the previous false allegations came a week before the primary.”
In a video posted to X shortly after the story broke, Platner stated, “Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins.” He added, “Those were the goals when we launched this campaign, and they remain my goals today.”
The sexual assault allegation has prompted a cascade of calls for Platner’s withdrawal. The Maine Democratic Party urged him to step aside on Monday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who chairs the influential Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), issued a joint statement demanding Platner “immediately withdraw” from the race. They further warned that the DSCC “will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California, who had previously campaigned with Platner despite earlier allegations, pulled his endorsement on Monday. Khanna wrote, “I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible.” Democratic activist Cheyenne Hunt, founder of Reckoning Action, also called for Platner to drop out by the July 13 ballot deadline, arguing it would allow the party to put forth a qualified candidate better positioned to win in November. Hunt emphatically stated, “With the new allegations of rape and sexual violence that were brought to light, it’s absolutely unquestionable: Graham Platner is not fit to hold a United States Senate seat, or any elected office for that matter.” Platner’s former political director has also suggested he should withdraw.
Platner’s withdrawal would trigger a scramble for a new Democratic nominee for the critical Senate seat. Under Maine election law, nominees have until 5 p.m. on the second Monday in July (July 13) to withdraw, after which the political party has two weeks to select a replacement. Platner secured the Democratic Senate primary last month after Maine Governor Janet Mills withdrew from the race. The Maine Senate contest is considered key to Democrats’ aspirations of gaining control of the Senate, especially given that incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, who has served since 1997 and chairs the Appropriations Committee, is the only Republican seeking reelection in a state that Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2024. Democrats fear the allegations against Platner could jeopardize their chances of victory.
A 41-year-old veteran and oyster farmer, Platner’s entry into politics has been marked by a series of personal controversies. He has previously apologized for problematic internet comments made years ago and covered up a tattoo from his Marine service widely recognized as a Nazi symbol. Ahead of last month’s primary, The Wall Street Journal reported in late May that Platner’s wife had informed his campaign about him sending sexually explicit text messages to other women. Days later, The New York Times detailed allegations of Platner’s “unsettling” behavior toward women he dated, including a claim of physical abuse, which Platner has denied. Amid these earlier allegations, Platner told MS NOW that he had been transparent about being a “bad boyfriend a decade ago” and did not expect new allegations, predicting it would be a “rehashing of essentially the same stuff.”
Despite aligning with Platner’s politics, Jenny Racicot expressed her compulsion to come forward, stating, “there are a lot of men in this world relying on the silence of women to be where they are, and I don’t want to contribute to that.” She acknowledged the potential impact of her story, saying, “I see his political videos, they get me fired up as well. I understand why people want someone like him in office, and I felt like me coming forward would essentially potentially take that away, and I felt really uncomfortable with the responsibility of and the weight of my story, and what that might do.”
The Bangor Daily News reported that Platner has canceled a string of campaign events recently. However, Platner told MS NOW last month that he had “not once” considered dropping out, stating, “Amy and I knew early on that we were going to take lumps, and we just, we’re dedicated to this. It has never crossed our mind to drop out of this thing. I am fully committed to this until the end.”
