Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine, said Monday that he is considering his next steps after facing an allegation of sexual assault from a woman who accused him of an incident in 2021. Calls for him to abandon his campaign have since intensified.
Platner and his campaign have rejected the sexual assault allegation made by 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot, which was reported by Politico.
A Marine veteran and oyster farmer, Platner gained national attention this year after securing the Democratic nomination with a populist and progressive campaign message. He is now challenging five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins, the only Republican member of Congress from New England.
“I wanted to directly address the troubling, serious, and false allegations against me. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false,” Platner said in a video posted to X minutes after the Politico story was published.
“This movement we have built — the largest volunteer base in the history of Maine politics, the hundreds of thousands of grassroots donors, the supporters across the ideological spectrum — we were united in a love of Maine, a belief that our politics must change and a focus on defeating Susan Collins,” he said.
Platner, 41, has not indicated that he plans to withdraw from the Senate race. However, pressure from prominent Democrats urging him to step aside has continued to grow following the allegations.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who leads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, issued a joint statement saying the allegations were “incredibly disturbing” and emphasized that “violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable.”
“Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins,” said Schumer and Gillibrand, who represent New York in the Senate.
“The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”
Under Maine election law, a candidate in a general election can withdraw by 5 p.m. on the second Monday in July and have a replacement named. This gives Platner until July 13 to decide whether to leave the race or continue his campaign.
If he withdraws, Maine Democrats would have until July 27 to select a new candidate, according to state law.
Platner secured the Democratic nomination in June after defeating Governor Janet Mills in the primary, following Mills’ decision to suspend her campaign.
On Monday, the Maine Democratic Party urged Platner to step aside, saying it has a “responsibility to hold every candidate who seeks to represent our state to the highest standard.”
“This Senate race comes at a pivotal moment in the struggle against a government, supported by Senator Collins, that serves the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of ordinary Maine people,” party leaders said in a statement posted on X.
“It is essential that we refocus this campaign on that struggle.”
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who recently visited Maine to campaign alongside Platner, also called for him to withdraw from the race.
“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” Khanna said in a post to X. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., described the allegations as “troubling and deeply serious” and withdrew his endorsement of Platner.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., who was among the early supporters of Platner’s campaign, told CNBC that “these are very serious allegations, and they should be treated as such.”
According to Racicot’s account to Politico, she and Platner had an on-and-off relationship spanning two years before she alleged that he entered her home without consent in 2021 while intoxicated and forced himself on her despite her objections.
She said she remembered Platner “grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful with me,” adding that she cut ties and ended communication with him afterward.
Politico reported that it verified Racicot’s claims by speaking with a former partner she dated after Platner, along with a friend and another acquaintance. The publication also obtained communications between Racicot and her therapist as part of its reporting.
The accusations against Platner have been likened to those that prompted Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., to abandon his bid for California governor and step down from Congress earlier this year.
A report by The San Francisco Chronicle in April detailed allegations from a former staffer who accused Swalwell of having multiple sexual encounters with her while she worked for him. She further claimed that he sexually assaulted her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent, allegations that quickly ended his political campaign.
The accusations involving Platner represent the latest controversy facing Democrats as they attempt to defeat Collins. The Maine Senate seat is seen as one of the party’s opportunities to gain ground in its push to take back control of the Senate.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris carried Maine by roughly seven percentage points during the 2024 presidential election when she was the Democratic nominee.
In a statement to CNBC, Susan Collins described the allegations as “appalling.”
“Nevertheless, it is not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate,” Collins said.
In June, The New York Times reported that several women who had dated Platner described what they considered “unsettling” behaviour, although the article did not include any allegation of sexual assault.
The report also mentioned part of Racicot’s account but stated that she “declined to elaborate” on what occurred after Platner allegedly showed up at her home while drunk.
Platner also faced scrutiny earlier in the campaign after images revealed a tattoo on his body that appeared similar to a Nazi symbol. He later had it covered up, saying he received the tattoo during his time in the Marines and that he was unaware of its association with Nazi ideology.
Throughout the controversy, Platner has frequently referred to his military background and experiences with PTSD when explaining past actions and behaviour.
Leading Democratic strategists are expressing hope that Platner will withdraw from the race.
Donna Brazile, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee, said in a post on X on Monday that “it is time for Mr. Platner to step aside and be replaced by July 13th.”
“Platner needs time to heal, focus on his family and well-being. Enough. Enough,” she said.
David Axelrod, who managed former President Barack Obama’s campaign, said in a post on X that “the latest allegation of sexual assault can’t be explained away or excused.”
