Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner has suspended his campaign for the Maine Senate seat following allegations of sexual assault. Platner officially ended his bid on Friday afternoon, though he announced the suspension in a recorded video posted to social media on Wednesday.
The decision follows a report by Politico on Monday in which Maine resident Jenny Racicot alleged that Platner raped her in 2021. Racicot told Politico that Platner entered her home while intoxicated and forced her to have sex over her repeated objections. In an interview with CNN, Racicot stated she did not fight back at the time due to fear of Platner, a former Marine, becoming more violent.
Denials and Campaign Response
Platner has denied the claims, describing them as “all false,” “categorically untrue,” and “politically motivated.” In his Wednesday announcement video, Platner blamed the “political establishment” for attempting to force him out of the race, noting that the story emerged just before the July 13 ballot deadline.
The campaign initially responded to the Politico report by stating that Platner “vigorously denies” the allegations and argued that critics and “out of state establishment operatives” were coordinating to push him from the race. The campaign further claimed that opponents had previously leveled false accusations against Platner, calling him a “Nazi, a war criminal, and a communist.”
Timeline Controversy and Advisor Scrutiny
The timing of Platner’s withdrawal has led to scrutiny of his campaign’s internal communications. Morris Katz, a top political advisor to Platner, wrote on X that the team advised Platner to suspend his candidacy “as soon” as they became aware of the allegations.
However, this claim was challenged by a community note on X and by CNN’s Jake Tapper. The community note pointed out that when CNN asked the campaign about Racicot’s allegations on July 6, the campaign denied the claims rather than immediately advising a suspension. Tapper confirmed on X that the campaign told him the assertion of rape was false on Monday, while the suspension did not occur until two days later.
Pressure from Democratic Leadership
Platner faced a rapid loss of support from high-ranking Democratic officials. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), stated that the DSCC would not invest in the Maine race if Platner remained on the ballot. Other prominent figures who called for him to step aside included Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Broader Context of Controversies
The rape allegation is the most recent in a series of reports regarding Platner’s private life:
- The New York Times: Published accounts from three former romantic partners who described Platner’s behavior as “unsettling,” demeaning, and in one instance, physically threatening. Platner admitted to a “very dark period” involving alcohol abuse and being a “far from perfect boyfriend,” though he denied being physically threatening.
- The Wall Street Journal: Reported that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women at the start of his marriage, a report the campaign has since confirmed.
Ballot Implications for Maine Democrats
Platner’s exit creates a critical timeline for Maine Democrats seeking to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. According to Maine election law, Platner needed to formally withdraw by July 13 to allow the party to select a replacement nominee. If this deadline was met, a political committee has until July 27 to choose a new nominee.
The Maine Democratic Party stated that any process for selecting a new nominee would be “open, transparent, and inclusive.”
Find more reporting in our News section.
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