Platner urged to drop Maine Senate bid after assault allegations
WASHINGTON - Maine Democrat Graham Platner is under pressure from party leaders and allies to end his bid for a U.S. Senate seat following a sexual assault allegation he has denied.
Platner, a political novice who became the darling of progressives, said in a social media video that he would reflect on "the best path forward" for his campaign after the allegation was published Monday by Politico.
But he rapidly lost support from Democrats, who consider ousting Republican incumbent Susan Collins central to their effort to retake the Senate majority in November's midterm elections.
"The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and fellow New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who runs the party's campaign committee, said in a joint statement.
They called on Platner to "immediately" step aside for a replacement picked by the state party, and vowed to cut off the party's funding for Platner if he stays on the ballot.
The 41-year-old oysterman has been plagued by a series of scandals, including his since-covered tattoo associated with Nazis and accusations of troubling behavior from previous girlfriends. He did not directly address the story in Politico, simply describing the "troubling, serious and false allegations against me."
The new report cited an on-the-record interview with a woman who claims Platner forced her to have sex with him when he was intoxicated nearly five years ago, despite her repeated objections. The news organization said it had corroborated her allegations with a man the woman later dated as well as emails between the woman and her therapist.
Bloomberg hasn't independently confirmed the allegations. Platner's campaign referred to his video statement.
Several Democrats withdrew their endorsements of Platner in the hours after the report was published. They included Senator Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, who called the allegations "troubling and deeply serious." California Representative Ro Khanna said the report was "very serious and credible," adding that Platner "should drop out from the race."
The Maine Democratic Party also called on Platner to step aside, stressing in a statement that it "stands with women and survivors, and that principle does not bend based on party affiliation." Others urging him to exit the race included Alex Vindman, a Florida Democrat running for a Senate seat, and Donna Brazile, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee.
The November Senate race in Maine carries outsized importance for Democrats, who consider it to be one of their best shots at toppling a Republican incumbent and helping secure the net gain of four seats they need to reclaim the chamber. Collins, 73, is seeking a sixth term.
Platner has one week to decide whether to drop out under state law. He would have to withdraw by 5 p.m. on July 13, with the state Democratic party then having two weeks to name a replacement candidate.
Potential replacements if Platner drops out include Governor Janet Mills, who suspended her own campaign for the Senate seat after falling behind Platner in polling and fundraising. She remained on the ballot and came in a distant second place in last month's primary.
Democrats aren't limited to candidates who participated in the primary, though, opening up other possibilities such as former state senator Troy Jackson, who had earned Platner's endorsement for the Democratic nominee for governor but came in third place in last month's primary.
Another option is Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who tried to bar President Donald Trump from appearing on Maine's 2024 Republican primary ballot on the grounds that he engaged in insurrection through his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on Congress.
_____
(With assistance from Mike Dorning and Brooke Sutherland.)
_____
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 5:03 PM.