Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat, ended his campaign Wednesday night after a woman he previously dated publicly accused him of sexual assault, upending one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.
“We believe for the movement to continue, it can’t be me and for that reason, we are suspending campaign operations,” Platner said in a statement. The 41-year-old oyster farmer had won the Democratic primary last month to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins, a race Democrats hoped to flip in November.
The allegation came from Jenny Racicot, a Maine resident who told Politico that Platner forced himself on her in late 2021 despite her repeated objections. Racicot said Platner entered her rural home uninvited one night while deeply intoxicated and forced himself on her while she repeatedly told him to stop. “I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” she said. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.'” Platner denied the allegation, calling it “categorically false.”
A second woman, Lyndsey Fifield, told The Washington Post that Platner repeatedly removed condoms without her consent when they were having sex. Fifield said she had explicitly told Platner on multiple occasions that he had to wear protection because she was not on birth control. Platner’s campaign called that claim “categorically false and politically motivated.”
Platner had faced mounting pressure from Democratic leaders to withdraw. On Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of his most influential and vocal supporters, issued a statement calling for him to step aside. “I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine,” Sanders said. “In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.” Rep. Ro Khanna, who had appeared at a rally with Platner just days after earlier allegations of violent behavior, was among the first to publicly say he should withdraw, calling the allegations “very serious and credible.”
The Maine Democratic Party also called on Platner to leave the race, while Senate Democratic leaders said they would withhold financial resources if he continued his campaign. The party’s support had already been eroding for months. Platner had faced an escalating series of controversies, including old social media posts dismissive of sexual assault, a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol that he later covered, sexually explicit text messages sent to other women after his 2023 marriage, and allegations of physical violence by ex-girlfriends. Despite these revelations, many high-profile supporters initially stood by him, and Platner attributed his behavior to mental health struggles and post-traumatic stress from his Marine Corps service.
Because Platner withdrew before a state deadline to finalize the November ballot, Maine’s secretary of state can declare a vacancy and allow Democrats to choose a replacement. The party now has until July 27 at 5 p.m. to select that candidate, according to The Washington Post. Several potential candidates have already expressed interest, including former state Sen. Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and David Costello, who finished third in the Democratic Senate primary.
The development injects fresh chaos into Democrats’ uphill battle to retake the Senate. Democrats need to win four seats held by Republicans and hold their own to win control of the chamber. Collins is seeking a sixth term in a state that Democrat Kamala Harris won by 7 percentage points in 2024, making the seat competitive for Democrats.
Sources
- The Washington Post — Platner’s campaign suspension, the Racicot allegation details, Democratic response, and the July 27 replacement deadline
- Politico — The original Racicot sexual assault allegation reporting and Platner’s denial
- The Washington Post — Fifield’s allegation about condom removal and campaign denial
- The Hill — Bernie Sanders’ call for Platner to withdraw
- PBS NewsHour — Democratic endorsement withdrawals and party pressure
