politics
Democratic Leaders Say They Will Not Fund Maine Senate Race if Nominee Platner Stays on Ballot
Democratic Party leaders called on Graham Platner to end his campaign against Republican Senator Susan Collins after a woman accused him of sexual assault nearly five years ago. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said the DSCC would not invest in the race if Platner remains on the ballot. Platner denied the allegations.
Jul 7, 1:38 AM·1m read1 source
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Democratic Party leaders on Monday called on Graham Platner to withdraw as the party's nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine after media reports that a woman accused him of forcibly having sex with her nearly five years ago. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who heads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, issued a joint statement saying the DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.
Platner denied the accusations in a statement and said he and his team are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward. He did not indicate whether he was considering suspending or ending his campaign. Politico first reported the accusation.
CNN reported that the woman accused Platner of entering her home without permission and raping her while he was intoxicated. Within hours of the reports, Democratic Party leaders in Maine called on Platner to drop out and members of Congress withdrew their support for his candidacy.
Collins' seat is one of the most closely watched targets in Democrats' drive to win majority control of the Senate in the November 3 midterm elections.
Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats while Democrats hold 47. Democrats would need a net gain of four seats to take control of the 100-member chamber.
