Graham Platner suspended his Maine Senate campaign on July 8, 2026, following a sexual assault allegation and mounting pressure from Democratic party leaders, according to reporting from the New York Times and other outlets. The oyster farmer and Marine veteran, who won the Democratic primary with a populist platform that forced Governor Janet Mills to suspend her own bid, announced his decision in an 11-minute video posted to social media.
Platner’s decision came two days after Politico reported that Jenny Racicot, 41, alleged he sexually assaulted her nearly five years earlier. Racicot said that in late 2021, an intoxicated Platner entered her home uninvited and forced himself on her despite her repeated objections. She said she cut off contact after the encounter. Platner denied the allegation, calling it “categorically false” and stating that “any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false.”
Within hours of Racicot’s account becoming public, Democratic support for Platner collapsed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on him to withdraw, according to BBC reporting. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the party’s main vehicle for fundraising and supporting Senate candidates, announced it would not spend money on the Maine race if Platner did not drop out. Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Martin Heinrich, and Ruben Gallego, along with Representative Ro Khanna, all rescinded their endorsements.
In his video announcement, Platner said his suspension was not an admission of guilt but a response to Democrats’ threats to cut off campaign support. “For the movement to continue, it can’t be me,” he said, according to The Guardian. He added that he would file paperwork to officially withdraw once assured the process to replace him would be “open and transparent and democratic.”
The Maine Democratic Party’s executive director, Devon Murphy-Anderson, pushed back against Platner’s conditions. According to The Guardian, Anderson said the Platner campaign had been trying to put their “thumb on the scale” of the replacement process. “We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner’s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee to the US Senate,” Anderson said.
Under state law, Maine Democrats have until July 27 to select a replacement candidate to face Republican Senator Susan Collins. The party has announced it will hold a nominating convention to select the new nominee. Several Maine Democrats have already expressed interest, including former state senator Troy Jackson, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and economist Nirav Shah, according to BBC reporting.
Platner’s withdrawal came after his campaign had been marked by repeated scandals. In June, the New York Times reported he had exchanged sexually explicit messages with women while married. The Times also published accounts from three former girlfriends who described his behavior as erratic and angry. Platner had also previously acknowledged a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which he said he covered up, and old Reddit posts surfaced showing him making insensitive comments about sexual assault.
Sources
- The Guardian — Platner’s video announcement, quote from Devon Murphy-Anderson, details of allegations and party response
- BBC — Platner’s suspension announcement, details of allegation, Democratic party pressure, potential replacement candidates
- The New York Times — Prior reporting on Platner’s scandals and campaign
- Politico — Initial report of Jenny Racicot’s sexual assault allegation
