Graham Platner Ends Senate Campaign Amid Assault Allegations

Graham Platner announced the end of his Senate campaign on Wednesday, following days of turmoil and disagreements within the Democratic Party. His decision leaves the party without a candidate for the crucial Maine race this fall.

The announcement came after allegations of sexual assault by a woman Platner dated in 2021. These claims caused his support to dwindle significantly, even among key Democratic allies who retracted their endorsements and urged him to withdraw. In a video on X, Platner denied the accusations, calling them false, but acknowledged they had placed significant pressure on him.

Platner mentioned he faced challenges in fundraising, accessing voter data, and running a campaign if he continued his candidacy. The next steps should come from the people of Maine, Platner said. He emphasized the need for the process to be open, transparent, and democratic, reflecting the values of the movement he built.

Platner stated that to ensure the movement’s continuation, it can’t be me. He cited not the allegations themselves, but the removal of campaign structures by those in power as the reason for suspending campaign operations.

The Maine Democratic Party now has until July 27 to replace him on the ballot, as per state law. Selecting a candidate within this timeframe is uncertain, but individuals are already competing to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in her bid for a sixth term.

On Wednesday evening, the state party announced plans for a nominating convention to choose a replacement candidate. It promised transparency in sharing the timeline, details, and requirements for contenders.

Platner’s campaign suspension followed a warning from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic campaign arm. They stated that the national party would not fund the Maine Senate race if Platner remained on the ballot.

After Politico reported the allegations on Monday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who had campaigned for Platner, emphasized zero tolerance for sexual assault. Other political figures, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ro Khanna, and Sen. Ruben Gallego, expressed their concerns and advised Platner to step aside.

The situation poses a challenge for Maine Democrats, who lack time for a primary campaign. However, it offers an opportunity to find a stronger candidate capable of defeating Collins, a longstanding senator who initially promised to serve only two terms.

Democrats need to gain four net seats to take control of the Senate this fall. Besides Maine and North Carolina, their opportunities mainly lie in states won by Trump in 2024, such as Ohio, Iowa, Alaska, and Texas. Maine remains the only Democrat-leaning state with a GOP senator.

Platner won the primary on June 9 after two-term Gov. Janet Mills, the preferred candidate of the Democratic establishment, withdrew from the race in late April. Platner’s straightforward and anti-establishment stance resonated with the rising populism among Democrats, gaining endorsements from notable progressives, including Warren, Khanna, and Sanders.

The Monday Politico report featured Jenny Racicot, who accused Platner of uninvitedly appearing at her home intoxicated in 2021 and forcing himself on her. Platner denied the accusations, calling them categorically untrue.

Earlier, facing revelations about his past, Platner’s allies had accepted his account of making mistakes after serving in combat. They believed he had changed but distanced themselves following the sexual assault allegations.

Past controversies included a tattoo associated with Nazi symbols, now covered, controversial Reddit posts, and testimonies from ex-girlfriends about his behavior. He had also reportedly sent explicit messages via a Kik account early in his marriage.

Some supporters felt betrayed by the recent allegations, which became a breaking point for his allies. Platner had assured Democrats that such stories would not emerge, two individuals told NBC News. In his video message, Platner urged supporters to keep fighting for his campaign’s values, expressing optimism about future victories.