Maine's Democratic nominee for the Senate, Graham Platner, is facing yet another scandal after a woman publicly accused him of sexually assaulting her during an encounter in 2021, allegations the candidate has categorically denied as he weighs the future of his campaign.
The allegations were first reported by Politico, which interviewed Jenny Racicot, a Maine woman who said she had been involved in an on-and-off romantic relationship with Platner. Racicot alleged that Platner entered her home while intoxicated and forced her to have sex despite her repeated objections.
She told the publication that she later informed him that the encounter had not been consensual and ended all contact with him. Platner, who secured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine last month and is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, denied the accusation in a video statement posted Monday.
"Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false," Platner said, adding that he and his campaign were taking time to consider "the best path forward" in light of what he described as the political consequences of the report. The allegations immediately cast uncertainty over one of the Democratic Party's top Senate pickup opportunities ahead of the November election.
According to state election law, Democrats could replace Platner on the general election ballot if he withdraws by July 13, with party officials required to choose a replacement nominee by July 27. Politico reported that Racicot's account was supported by contemporaneous communications, including emails she sent to her therapist after the alleged assault and messages warning others about Platner.
The publication also said it interviewed individuals familiar with her account, including a former romantic partner who said Racicot had disclosed the alleged assault years before Platner launched his Senate campaign. The report comes after Platner had already faced scrutiny over his past conduct.
In recent weeks, several former partners accused him of abusive, manipulative, and misogynistic behavior, allegations that Platner has acknowledged in part while attributing some of his past actions to struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder. However, the sexual assault accusation marks the first allegation of non-consensual sexual conduct against the candidate.
Following the publication of the allegations, Platner canceled several campaign town halls scheduled across Maine. His campaign initially cited illness, but the cancellations coincided with the release of the report and fueled speculation about whether he would remain in the race.
Platner, a Marine veteran and oyster farmer, built his campaign around progressive economic policies, including higher taxes on the wealthy and expanded government-backed health care. His candidacy had attracted national attention as Democrats sought to flip a seat long held by Collins.
The campaign had already been battered by earlier revelations about Platner's personal history. During the Democratic primary, resurfaced Reddit posts showed him using inflammatory language and making comments about sexual assault that critics described as insensitive.
Other posts referenced political violence, including one in which he wrote that people should fight "with signs, and fists, and guns if need be." Platner apologized for the posts, saying they reflected a troubled period after his military service and were not representative of his current beliefs.
Platner also faced scrutiny over a chest tattoo that resembled the Nazi SS Totenkopf symbol. He said he received the tattoo while serving as a Marine in Croatia in 2007, believing it was simply a skull-and-crossbones design, and insisted he did not know of its association with Nazi Germany until it was brought to his attention during the campaign. He later had the tattoo covered, although former acquaintances disputed his account and claimed he had previously been aware of its meaning.
Last month, it was reported that Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, had told campaign aides in 2025 that she had discovered explicit messages Platner had sent to other women during their marriage. Following the reports, Gertner defended Platner, stating that she and her husband have a "great marriage" and criticized the public airing of what she described as deeply personal issues.
As of Monday, no criminal charges had been announced in connection with Racicot's allegations. The accusations remain allegations, and Platner has not been charged with any crime.
