Former staff members have accused Democratic Pennsylvania state Sen. Daylin Leach, a top candidate in the race to run against Republican U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, of inappropriate comments and touching, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Inquirer reported Sunday that Leach made inappropriate sexual comments, which he said were in jest, and touched some women inappropriately. He denied any wrongdoing.
Leach accused a political opponent, though he did not say whom, and reporters "hungry for a story" for the allegations. He said he can sometimes resort to "bawdy comedy."
"It is true that sometimes I do touch people when I talk to them," Leach said in a statement to the Inquirer. "A clasped forearm, a pat on the back. But never anything inappropriate or sexual."
Leach's campaign did not respond to a request for comment on whether he would remain in the race. But Leach indicated in his statement he "will go back to doing what I've always done, being a fierce fighter for women's rights and trying to protect my family from the unfortunate consequences of the profession I've chosen."
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did not respond to requests for comment. The committee has so far followed a zero-tolerance policy toward candidates accused of sexual harassment.
On Friday, Democrat Andrea Ramsey dropped out of the race for in Kansas' 3rd Congressional District after sexual harassment allegations against her surfaced. Ramsey said the DCCC refused to support her campaign, which meant she could not continue as a candidate.
Leach was considered a top candidate in the crowded Democratic primary in Pennsylvania's 7th District.
Leach, who ran unsuccessfully for the 13th District seat in 2014, is well-known among liberal Democrats for his brash humor and sardonic social media posts.
He had so far raised more than $403,000, more than the other Democrats in the primary, according to Federal Elections Commission documents. Dan Muroff, a former House staffer and Democratic ward leader in Philadelphia, had raised the next-largest amount with more than $306,000.
