Graham Platner weighs future of Senate bid after new sexual assault allegation

Democrat Graham Platner said he was "taking time to reflect" on his campaign to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins amid a new allegation from a Maine woman who said he sexually assaulted her nearly five years ago.

Jenny Racicot, 41, told Politico in a July 6 story that she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner, the current Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, for more than two years. She alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited one night in late 2021 while intoxicated and forcibly pursued her while she repeatedly told him to stop.

Raciot told the outlet she cut off contact with him after telling him the encounter was not consensual.

Platner immediately denied the accusations.

"These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue," he said in a statement provided to USA TODAY.

Following Politico's report, Platner reiterated his denial in a video posted on social media the afternoon of July 6. He had also canceled several events on the campaign trail for July 5 and 6.

"We were united in a love of Maine, a belief that our politics must change, and a focus on defeating Susan Collins," Platner said in the video, using the past tense.

"Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward, for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins," Platner continued. "Those were the goals when we launched this campaign, and they remain my goals today."

Alleged victim felt compelled to go public

Racicot, whose name previously appeared in a related story in the New York Times, said she felt compelled to go public about the allegation because the reaction to that story was dominated by controversy about another woman, Lyndsey Fifield. The Virginia conservative who worked for right-leaning groups and Republican campaigns alleged that Platner mistreated her and said she faced attacks because of her ties to the Republican Party.

Racicot, who is a Democrat, told Politico she was torn about coming forward in part because she agrees with Platner politically. She told the Times she and Platner dated casually between 2019 and 2021.

Platner's campaign said in its July 6 statement that the candidate has withstood controversies brought to light in an effort to get him to drop out of the race, including stories focused on a tattoo he had that appeared to resemble a Nazi symbol.

"For a year, opponents of this campaign have thrown everything they can at Graham – calling him a Nazi, a war criminal, and a communist. None of it has been true and this is no different. It is not a coincidence that this story comes a week before the ballot deadline, just as the previous false allegations came a week before the primary," the statement said. "Graham began this campaign to fight for a Maine where everyone is treated with dignity and where Mainers are put first, and no amount of desperate smears will stop this movement from seeing that vision through."

Maine Democratic Party urges Platner to withdraw

Meanwhile, three leaders from the Maine Democratic Party called on Platner to withdraw his Senate nomination, after multiple women made what they called "serious, credible allegations."

The leaders said they stand with "women and survivors, and that principle does not bend based on party affiliation," they said in a statement posted on social media, adding that they respect the women who made the hard decision to come forward. "Speaking up is often costly."

The state party leaders added that they are entrusted with who represents them, and it requires judgment, leadership, and a willingness to act when circumstances require it.

"This Senate race comes at a pivotal moment in the struggle against a government, supported by Senator Collins, that serves the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of ordinary Maine people," their statement concluded. "It is essential that we refocus this campaign on that struggle."

Key Democrats rip Platner

The fallout among national Democrats was swift. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, a prominent progressive who'd campaigned for Platner in Maine and stood by him despite his previous scandals, said the new allegations crossed a "red line."

"These allegations are very serious and credible," Khanna said in a statement. "Graham Platner should drop out from the race."

Alex Vindman, a Democratic Senate candidate in Florida, also said Platner should drop out. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, rescinded his endorsement.

There's still time for Platner to bow out

Maine law says that a candidate may withdraw their name from the nomination by 5 p.m. on the second Monday in July. This year, that would be July 13.

To do so, a candidate must notify Maine's secretary of state in writing.

If Platner dropped out, the secretary of State would declare a vacancy, and the Maine Democratic Party would then have two weeks to make a replacement nomination by 5 p.m. on July 27 for the general election.

One name that could come into consideration is Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who surprisingly suspended her Senate campaign in April, citing financial reasons. Mills' name remained on last month's Senate Democratic primary ballot, capturing 19.3%

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, or DSCC, did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on the latest allegations against Platner.

USA TODAY's Joey Garrison contributed

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Graham Platner weighs future of Senate bid after new sexual assault allegation

Reporting by Terry Collins, Margie Cullen and Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 6:34 PM.