Key Democratic allies are withdrawing their support for Graham Platner, a senator hopeful from Maine, after a woman accused him of sexual assault. Platner has denied the allegations.
Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old resident of Maine, said that she had dated Platner on and off for about two years leading up to the night in 2021 that he entered her home and forced her to have sex with him, according to an exclusive with POLITICO published on Monday. She said that Platner was drunk and that she told him to stop multiple times.
“I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice,’” Racicot told POLITICO.
Platner called the allegations “troubling, serious, and false” in a video he shared on social media on Monday.
“Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false,” he said.
Platner has faced controversy in the past for his inflammatory social media posts and a tattoo he had—which is now covered up—of a recognized Nazi symbol. The New York Times also published an article last month in which multiple women who had previously dated Platner described his “unsettling” and concerning behavior.
Read More: The Democrats’ Platner Problem
In the wake of the recent allegation, many prominent politicians are pulling their endorsements of Platner—and several are even urging him to suspend his campaign.
In a joint statement on Monday, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, who is the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said that the committee “will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”
“The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing—violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable,” the statement said. “Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins.”
Platner secured the Democratic nomination last month to face off against the Republican incumbent, Sen. Susan Collins, in the general election. Democrats are hoping to win back control of the Senate in November, and they view Maine’s seat as critical to achieving that goal.
Rep. Ro Khanna of California said in a post on X that he was pulling his endorsement of Platner.
“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” he said. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona also said in a social media post that he would no longer back Platner, calling the allegations against the candidate “troubling and deeply serious.”
In a statement shared with news outlets, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who previously campaigned with Platner, said that “there can be no tolerance for sexual assault.”
“Now more than ever we need leaders in Washington who reflect our values,” the Massachusetts senator said. “With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race.”
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont also shared a statement with news outlets on Tuesday, saying, “I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.”
When asked about Platner and the Maine Senate race during a press conference on Tuesday, Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters, “I believe that it’s time for him to drop out of the race.”
Platner has not decided if he will end his bid for Collins’s seat. His campaign is evaluating next steps, according to the video he posted Monday.
“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,” he said.
Maine law allows for another Democratic candidate to appear on the ballot in Platner’s place if he drops out by July 13. However, the new nominee would need to be declared by July 27.
It is not immediately clear how Maine Democrats would choose his replacement.
The post Pressure Mounts for Platner as Allies Pull Support appeared first on TIME.
