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Democrats swiftly turned on Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner on Monday after a rape allegation triggered a full-on revolt amongst his most outstanding supporters, with calls pouring in from throughout the occasion for him to droop his marketing campaign.
The mounting defections got here after Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, accused Platner of rape in interviews with Politico and CNN, alleging the Senate hopeful entered her residence uninvited whereas intoxicated practically 5 years in the past and compelled himself on her regardless of repeated makes an attempt to get him to cease.
Racicot, who was seeing Platner on and off on the time, told Politico she instantly minimize ties with him after he compelled her to have interaction in unprotected intercourse, saying, “I keep in mind the particular second the place I assumed to myself, like, ‘That is not my selection.’”
She additionally instructed CNN that the alleged encounter was the “dictionary definition” of rape.
PLATNER’S LATEST ACCUSER CLAIMS THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE ‘ABSOLUTELY’ RAPED HER
Platner instantly issued a press release denying Racicot’s account and stated he was “taking the time to mirror on the most effective path ahead” for his imploding marketing campaign.
The overwhelming majority of Democrats signaled Monday they have been unwilling to provide Platner that chance, with many lawmakers racing to subject statements calling on the Senate hopeful to right away finish his marketing campaign.
The pleas stretched from Platner’s most fervent progressive champions to the occasion’s institution wing, most of whom had solely just lately rallied behind Platner after he received the Democratic main nomination in June.
“There might be no tolerance for sexual assault,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., one in all Platner’s most outstanding supporters, stated in a press release rescinding her endorsement. “With a lot at stake, the most effective path ahead is for Graham Platner to step apart because the Democratic nominee and tackle these critical allegations outdoors this Senate race.”
In the meantime, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who had intently aligned himself with Platner, additionally withdrew his endorsement and known as on him to exit the race after information of the rape allegation circulated.
Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., additionally pulled their help Monday, with Gallego stopping in need of calling on Platner to droop his marketing campaign.
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The progressive lawmakers continued to help Platner after Lyndsey Fifield, a former Platner girlfriend, accused the Maine Democrat of abuse in June — an allegation Platner has repeatedly denied as false and politically motivated.
Khanna notably traveled to Maine to marketing campaign with Platner the next day after The New York Times first reported Fifield’s accusation.
Khanna beforehand stated in a number of interviews that he would disavow Platner if a sexual assault allegation emerged, however told Fox News Digital that the Senate hopeful was “taking accountability” for his previous and argued Platner was deserving of redemption.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at his main election occasion in Blue Hill, Maine, on June 9, 2026. (CJ Gunther/Getty Photographs)
The response amongst institution Democrats was equally swift, with Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democratic Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., publicly demanding that Platner “instantly” droop his marketing campaign to provide the occasion time to place ahead a brand new nominee.
The senior Democrats had solely just lately endorsed Platner following his June main win after their most well-liked decide, Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, ended her marketing campaign amid fundraising struggles.
“The DSCC won’t spend money on the Maine Senate race if Platner stays on the poll,” the pair wrote in a joint assertion Monday.
The Schumer-aligned Senate Majority PAC, a high outdoors spending group targeted on electing Democrats to the Senate, additionally stated Monday that it could redirect sources away from Maine so long as Platner remained within the race.
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The warning comes as Democrats are up towards a fast-approaching deadline to switch Platner because the occasion’s nominee. Underneath Maine legislation, Platner might be changed on the poll if he withdraws by 5 p.m. on July 13, with the state occasion allowed to place ahead a substitute by July 27.
Democrats view Maine as a high flip alternative to retake Senate management throughout November’s midterm elections, however Platner’s quickly unraveling marketing campaign may derail these plans.
His plethora of scandals — from a former Nazi-linked tattoo to infidelity throughout his marriage — has sharply divided Democrats because the occasion seeks to unseat longtime Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Collins on Monday issued a press release calling the rape accusation “appalling” however declined to weigh in on whether or not Platner ought to proceed within the race.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, slammed Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner after a Maine lady accused him of rape. (Graeme Sloan/Getty Photographs; Heather Diehl/Getty Photographs)
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Different lawmakers hailing from the occasion’s centrist flank, together with Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., additionally publicly urged Platner to finish his marketing campaign. Neither had formally endorsed Platner earlier than Monday’s rape allegation broke.
Many outstanding Maine Democrats additionally known as on Platner to drop his Senate bid on Monday, together with Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine and her daughter, former State Home Speaker Hannah Pingree, D-Maine, who’s the Democratic gubernatorial nominee to succeed Mills.
Former Maine public well being official Nirav Shah and State Sen. Troy Jackson, D-Maine, who each ran for the open gubernatorial seat and have been floated as potential Platner replacements, additionally stated Monday that he ought to withdraw his candidacy. Jackson, who campaigned with Platner, was among the many candidates that the Senate hopeful endorsed to succeed Mills.
An unlimited swath of left-wing organizations additionally pulled their help of Platner on Monday.
“The allegations reported right now are profoundly disturbing and disqualifying,” Tiffany Muller, president of the Democratic-affiliated group Finish Citizen United, stated in a press release. “The conduct described is essentially inconsistent with the requirements we anticipate from the candidates we help.”
VoteVets, a corporation that works to elect Democratic veterans, additionally withdrew its endorsement of Platner, who served in a number of abroad deployments. In the meantime, Our Revolution, a leftist group based by former Sanders marketing campaign staffers, known as on Platner to depart the race whereas demanding that his successor share his far-left coverage views.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., one in all Platner’s few remaining progressive supporters, had not weighed in on the sexual assault allegation as of late Monday night.
A spokesperson for Sanders didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner stood collectively throughout a “Combating Oligarchy” tour cease on the Collins Middle for the Arts on the College of Maine campus on Could 24, 2026, in Orono, Maine. (Joe Raedle/Getty Photographs)
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Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker additionally broke with Platner on Monday, saying “the accusations — they’re as credible as it’s going to get.”
“That is past purple flags. That is irredeemable,” Piker added throughout his livestream.
