- Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has suspended his campaign following a sexual assault allegation from a former partner, ending a run already marked by personal controversies.
- National and state Democratic leaders, including Chuck Schumer and Bernie Sanders, withdrew their support and funding, forcing Platner’s exit from a crucial race against Republican incumbent Susan Collins.
- Platner must formally withdraw by Monday, giving the Maine Democratic Party until July 27 to host a nominating convention and select a new candidate.
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has officially suspended his campaign following serious allegations of sexual assault made by a former partner.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the announcement came late Wednesday evening via an 11-minute social media video.
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While Platner vehemently denied the accusations, calling them false and fabricated, he conceded that immense pressure and a systematic withdrawal of support from the Democratic establishment left his campaign with no viable path forward.
He asserted that he was not stepping down as an admission of guilt, but because the structural resources necessary to run had been stripped away by party leadership.
Under Maine state law, Platner must file formal withdrawal paperwork by Monday at 5:00 PM.
His sudden departure introduces massive instability into a race that national Democrats view as vital for gaining control of the U.S. Senate.
The seat is currently held by long-serving Republican Senator Susan Collins. The Maine Democratic Party confirmed it will hold a nominating convention to choose a new nominee before the statutory deadline on July 27, noting that Platner will have absolutely no role in the process moving forward.
The primary accusation was leveled by Jenny Racicot, who detailed the late-2021 incident to major media outlets. Racicot stated that Platner entered her home without permission while intoxicated and forced himself on her, ignoring repeated demands to stop.
She explained that while they had a previous consensual relationship, he crossed multiple boundaries that night, leaving her to comply solely out of fear for her personal safety.
The fallout from the allegation was immediate and devastating for the insurgent campaign.
Top national Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, called for his immediate resignation.
High-profile progressive allies, such as Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Ruben Gallego, rescinded their endorsements. Notably, independent Senator Bernie Sanders, a crucial early backer, also publicly stated he advised Platner to step aside.
Furthermore, major Democratic campaign arms and political action committees completely cut off financial investment to the race while Platner remained on the ballot.
Platner, a 41-year-old military veteran and oyster farmer, easily won the Democratic primary last month after Governor Janet Mills exited the race.
However, his campaign had already been plagued by recurring controversies, including past problematic Reddit posts, a controversial wartime tattoo, and media reports detailing sexually explicit texts sent to other women during his marriage.
Though Platner had previously maintained he would stay in the race until the end, the compounding weight of institutional rejection and severe criminal allegations ultimately forced his exit.
