Graham Platner, the Democratic Party senatorial candidate for Maine, is facing a crisis that could end his political career after a woman accused him of sexual assault.
As reported by Politico, 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot says she was forced to have sex with Platner nearly five years ago “despite her repeated objections”.
She says she was in an “on-and-off relationship” with Platner for around two years, but in late 2021 he “entered her rural Maine home uninvited one night in late 2021, deeply intoxicated, and forced himself on her while she repeatedly told him to stop.”
She said:
“I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me. I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’”
Politico says they have verified Racicot’s story as much as possible, and that they’ve seen emails between her and her therapist, messages between her and her friends, and a man she confided in after the incident. In addition, Platner has previously been accused of physical abuse by other women, which at the time he dubbed “journalistic malpractice”.
Platner has denied the Politico allegations, dubbing the story “troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue”. Platner’s campaign was also combative, saying (as per The Guardian):
“These allegations are very serious and Graham vigorously denies them. They are also coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives. For a year, opponents of this campaign have thrown everything they can at Graham – calling him a Nazi, a war criminal, and a communist. None of it has been true and this is no different.
“It is not a coincidence that this story comes a week before the ballot deadline, just as the previous false allegations came a week before the primary. Graham began this campaign to fight for a Maine where everyone is treated with dignity and where Mainers are put first, and no amount of desperate smears will stop this movement from seeing that vision through.”
However, after the report went public, Platner also put out a video message indicating his political future is uncertain, saying:
— Graham Platner for Senate (@grahamformaine) July 6, 2026
“We are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to and the goal of defeating Susan Collins.”
Senior Democrats speak up
Multiple senior Democrats are now urging him to drop out. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Kirsten Gillibrand said in a joint statement that Platner should “immediately withdraw” and that:
“The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable. The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”
Ro Khanna, the California rep who has up to this point been a major Platner booster, said this was a “red line” and that he’s withdrawing his support:
“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”
There is a looming deadline of 5 pm ET on 13 July if Democrats want to replace Platner as the party’s nominee for the Maine Senate race. Beyond that, Platner will become the party’s de facto candidate. If he withdraws, there will then be a frantic two-week window in which to install a replacement candidate.
