politics
Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner faces growing calls to exit Maine race
Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner faces mounting pressure to withdraw from Maine's U.S. Senate race after a rape allegation surfaced less than a week before the withdrawal deadline. Several prominent Democrats have withdrawn support, and party officials are preparing to select a replacement candidate within two weeks.
Jul 7, 9:27 PM·2m read9 sources
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Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner faces mounting pressure to withdraw from Maine's U.S. Senate race after a rape allegation surfaced less than a week before the withdrawal deadline. The allegation, made by a former girlfriend, states that Platner entered her home uninvited and intoxicated in 2021 and raped her despite her protests.
Platner has not dropped out, but Maine Democrats are preparing to choose a new candidate within the next two weeks.
Racicot told Politico and CNN that the incident occurred during an on-again, off-again relationship. Platner said Monday his campaign is taking time to reflect on the best path forward.
Platner's campaign has dealt with multiple prior issues.
CNN reported on October 16, 2025, that Platner wrote deleted Reddit posts between 2009 and 2021 in which he described himself as a communist, called all police bastards, and said many rural White Americans are racist and unintelligent. The New York Times reported on May 30 that Platner's wife informed campaign officials he had exchanged sexually explicit messages with other women using the Kik app during the early years of their marriage.
On June 4, 2026, the New York Times published interviews with six former romantic partners. Three described Platner as kind and supportive; three alleged volatile relationships involving heavy drinking and emotional harm. One former girlfriend said he grabbed her hard enough to leave marks and twisted her arm during an argument.
October 21, 2025, Platner released video showing a chest tattoo resembling the Nazi SS Totenkopf symbol. He said he got the tattoo in Croatia in 2007 while drinking with Marines and believed it was a skull-and-crossbones design. He later covered it with a Celtic knot tattoo.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Rep. Ro Khanna withdrew their support after the rape allegation. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who endorsed Platner eleven days after his campaign launch, also called on him to end his candidacy on Tuesday.
