Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner faces mounting calls to withdraw from the race after a woman alleged he sexually assaulted her, with top party leaders abandoning his campaign and setting a tight deadline for his decision.
Jenny Racicot, who dated Platner five years ago, told Politico on July 6 that he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop. Platner denied the allegation, calling it “false” and “politically motivated.”
The allegation triggered an immediate exodus of Democratic support. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Platner to “immediately withdraw” as the Democratic nominee. Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said the committee would no longer invest in the race if he remained on the ballot. Senators Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin, Cory Booker, and Adam Schiff also called for his exit, as did progressive allies including Rep. Ro Khanna and Sen. Ruben Gallego, who withdrew their endorsements.
Outside groups that had backed Platner’s bid to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins quickly reversed course. VoteVets, which elevates veterans as Democratic candidates, and the progressive good-governance group End Citizens United rescinded their endorsements. Senate Majority PAC, the top super PAC supporting Senate Democrats, said it was “redirecting resources away from the Maine Senate race in light of the latest allegations.”
Platner’s campaign said in a statement that he was taking time to reflect on the “best path forward,” opening the door to dropping out. The Maine Democratic Party urged him to withdraw on Monday evening, though the decision rests with Platner after he won the June primary.
The Timeline and Replacement Process
Platner has until 5 p.m. on Monday, July 13—less than one week—to decide whether to leave the race. If he drops out by that deadline, Maine Democrats must name a replacement by July 27. If he waits until after July 13, the slot cannot be filled.
A replacement would face an unprecedented scramble. Democratic strategist David Farmer told the Bangor Daily News that any new nominee would have to “stand up a Senate campaign in days.” Potential candidates include former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former public health chief Nirav Shah, and former House Speaker Sara Gideon, who ran for the seat in 2020 and still has funds remaining.
The process echoes a comparable recent precedent. In April 2026, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California resigned from Congress after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, including allegations of rape. Swalwell denied the charges but dropped his bid for governor and announced his resignation, according to PBS News. His decision came as the House Ethics Committee launched an investigation and fellow Democrats called for his expulsion.
This is not Platner’s first controversy. In early June, the New York Times reported that multiple women who had dated him described intimidating and toxic behavior. One ex-girlfriend alleged he physically grabbed her hard enough to leave marks. Platner dismissed those earlier reports as “politically motivated” attacks. He also faced scrutiny over now-deleted Reddit posts in which he appeared to suggest sexual assault victims should “take some responsibility,” according to reporting by EMILYs List.
Platner won the Democratic primary on June 9 with 74.6 percent of the vote, despite the earlier controversies. Polls showed him holding a slight lead over Collins in the general election—a race both parties view as crucial to control of the Senate. The allegation and subsequent withdrawal of support have thrown the race into turmoil with just four months until November.
Sources
- Politico — exclusive reporting on Racicot’s allegation and Democrats’ withdrawal of support
- Bangor Daily News — details on the July 13 and July 27 deadlines, potential replacement candidates, and the nomination process
- NBC News — Platner’s statement that he is considering his “best path forward”
- PBS News — precedent of Eric Swalwell’s resignation in April 2026 after sexual assault allegations
- The New York Times — earlier June reporting on allegations from multiple ex-girlfriends
- EMILYs List — reporting on Platner’s deleted Reddit posts about sexual assault victims
