Graham Platner denies sex assault claim as Democrats urge him to quit Maine Senate campaign

Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner said Monday that he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” for his campaign after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021 — but calls for him to exit the race quickly grew.

Platner and his campaign denied the assault allegations by Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, as reported in a Politico article.

Platner, a 41-year-old Marine veteran and oysterman who rocketed to his party’s nomination this year on a populist, progressive message, is seeking to unseat five-term incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, the only federally elected Republican in 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 did not say he would drop out of the campaign, but pressure on him to do so mounted among his supporters in the Democratic Party. Platner defeated incumbent Gov. Janet Mills in the June Democratic primary, and was once seen as the potential future of the Democratic Party for his ability to connect with working-class voters.

Maine law states that a candidate for a general election can drop out by the second Monday in July and be replaced, giving Platner until July 13 to quit or stay the course. Maine Democrats would then need to find a replacement for Platner by July 27, per Maine law.

The Maine Democratic Party called for Platner to withdraw, citing 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 traveled to Maine to campaign with Platner, echoed that call.

“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., called the allegations “troubling and deeply serious,” and also rescinded his endorsement.

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., who was an early endorser of Platner’s campaign, told CNBC, “These are very serious allegations, and they should be treated as such.”

Racicot told Politico that she had an on-again, off-again relationship with Platner for two years before he entered her home uninvited in 2021 while intoxicated and forced himself on her over her objections.

Racicot said she remembered Platner “grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” and that she cut off communication with him after.

Politico corroborated Racicot’s account with a man she began dating after Platner, along with a friend and acquaintance. She also shared correspondence with her therapist with the publication.

The allegations mirror those that led to Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., dropping his campaign for California governor and resigning from Congress earlier this year.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported in April that a former staffer had alleged a series of sexual encounters with Swalwell while he was her boss, quickly leading to his political demise. The woman also alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her on two occasions when she was too intoxicated to give consent.

The allegations against Platner are the latest in a string of accusations of malfeasance, which have rocked Democrats who are eager to defeat Collins. Her seat is viewed as vulnerable to being flipped and helping return the party to control of the Senate.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris won Maine by nearly eight percentage points when she was the party’s presidential nominee in 2024.

Collins, in a statement to CNBC, said the “allegations are appalling.”

“Nevertheless, it is not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate,” Collins said.

The New York Times in June reported that several women who dated Platner recalled “unsettling” behavior, but that article did not include an accusation of sexual assault.

That article included a piece of Racicot’s story, but said she “declined to elaborate” about what happened after he showed up to her house drunk.

Platner also had a tattoo that closely resembled a Nazi symbol covered up earlier in the campaign, after photos of the tattoo became public. He said he got the tattoo while serving in the Marines and denied knowing its Nazi connotations.

Platner has repeatedly leaned on his story of military service and resulting PTSD to explain his prior behavior.

Top Democratic strategists are hopeful Platner will abandon his campaign.

Donna Brazile, a former Democratic National Committee chair, said in an X post 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 ran former President Barack Obama’s campaign, also said on X that “the latest allegation of sexual assault can’t be explained away or excused.”