Democratic Senate Candidate in Maine Faces Calls to Withdraw After Rape Allegation
Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner has been urged by party leaders and several elected officials to quit the race following a rape accusation, while he says the claims are false and is considering his options.
Democratic nominee Graham Platron is under pressure to end his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine after a woman accused him of non-consensual sex. Platron said the allegations are "troubling, serious, and false" and that he is taking time to reflect on his next steps. He has until July 13 to withdraw, after which the state Democratic Party could name a replacement by July 27.
The Maine Democratic Party leadership and a number of national Democrats, including Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, have called for Platron to step aside, stating that the party will not invest in the race if he remains on the ballot. Representative Ro Khanna said, > "I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platron should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement."
The accusation was made by Jenny Racicot, who said she dated Platron intermittently between 2019 and 2021 and described an incident in 2021 in which she alleges he entered her home while she was intoxicated, ignored her refusals, and forced sexual activity. In a Politico interview she said, > "I had been telling him these words, like: ‘No, don’t,’" and added that she considered the encounter non-consensual.
Senator Susan Collins, the Republican incumbent, described the allegations as "appalling" but said the decision on the Democratic nominee is not hers. Other officials, such as Maine Senate President Mattie Daughtry and Senator Ruben Gallego, have also withdrawn their support, calling the claims "serious" and "deeply serious."
The controversy adds to previous challenges for Platron’s campaign, which has faced scrutiny over past statements and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol. The race is viewed as pivotal for control of the Senate, heightening the political stakes of the unfolding situation.
