Graham Platner Faces Sexual-Assault Allegation and Calls to Exit Maine Senate Race

Graham Platner was accused on Monday of drunkenly sexually assaulting a former partner five years earlier, prompting calls from members of his own party to drop out of the Maine Senate race, Washington Examiner reported. Platner had already faced earlier scandals this year, including a Nazi tattoo and allegations of improper romantic behavior.

The latest claim surfaced after those issues failed to end his candidacy.

Republicans had committed more than $100 million to the race while Democrats earmarked more than $50 million, with total ad buys approaching $500 million for the 2026 cycle, according to Washington Examiner. Democrats need four Senate victories in 2026 to gain majority control, and experts have identified Maine among the top pick-up opportunities along with North Carolina, Texas, Iowa, Alaska and Ohio.

Troy Jackson, a former Maine Senate president, filed an exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday.

Jackson received endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, Maine’s chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and Platner himself during Jackson’s unsuccessful 2026 gubernatorial bid. A Republican-linked super PAC, Pine Tree Results, cancelled $1.5 million in broadcast reservations for the week starting Thursday but retains $13.3 million in other reservations.

On June 30 the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to remove limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates. The Republican National Committee entered the summer with roughly $125 million cash on hand while President Donald Trump’s war chest totals nearly $350 million, a top Trump political aide told Washington Examiner.