politics
Democratic Senate Candidate Graham Platner Withdraws After Rape Allegation
A woman who previously dated Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner alleged he raped her in 2021. Several Democratic senators withdrew their endorsements after the allegation surfaced days before the withdrawal deadline.
Jul 7, 9:27 PM·2m read5 sources
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Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner faces a rape allegation from a former girlfriend that surfaced less than a week before the deadline for him to withdraw from the race. Jenny Racicot told Politico and CNN that Platner, with whom she had an on-again, off-again relationship, entered her home uninvited and intoxicated in 2021 and raped her despite her protests.
Platner’s campaign has dealt with multiple earlier 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.
>"Republican super PACS want to defeat him. " — Sen. Bernie Sanders, June 8 (Fox News) Platner said Monday his campaign is taking time to reflect on the best path forward. Fox News Digital reached out to the campaign for further comment.
