Democrats begin pulling Platner endorsements after Maine candidate faces
sexual assault allegation
[July 07, 2026]
By KIMBERLEE KRUESI and NICHOLAS RICCARDI
A woman who previously dated Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham
Platner said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to
stop, according to a Politico report released Monday, leading prominent
supporters to pull their endorsements and throwing a must-win race for
the party into turmoil.
Platner denied the allegation, but said he would be considering next
steps for his campaign.
“Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting but mindful of the
political reality it will inflict, we’re taking the time to reflect on
the best path forward,” he said in a video released on social media.
Jenny Racicot, who lives in Maine, told Politico that Platner entered
her home in 2021 while drunk and assaulted her. Racicot said she had
been in an on-and-off relationship with Platner, but she cut off contact
with him after that night and told him the incident wasn’t consensual. A
voicemail left at a number listed for Racicot seeking comment did not
receive an immediate response, but she said in a CNN interview on Monday
evening that she opted not to fight back for fear of Platner, a former
Marine, becoming more violent.
“He violated multiple layers of consent that night,” Racicot said.
Platner's campaign did not immediately respond to an email and phone
message from The Associated Press seeking comment.
“Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false,”
Platner said in his video.
Uproar in the Democratic Party
Platner won the Democratic nomination last month, setting himself up to
face Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has beaten back previous
attempts to dislodge her from the seat that she's held for nearly three
decades.
Although Platner has long been controversial, the sexual allegation
sparked a flight away from the candidate, who canceled a handful of town
hall events. The main campaign arm of Senate Democrats called on Platner
to drop out and said it would spend no money on the race, which is
considered critical to control of the chamber, if he is the nominee.
“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,” Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of
the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Chuck Schumer, the top
Senate Democrat, said in a joint statement.
The Democratic National Committee sent out an email soliciting money for
Senate races hours after the Politico report posted, but Maine was not
one of them. Ken Martin, the party chair, said, “Maine Democrats should
select a new nominee.”
Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who stood by Platner even as the
candidate faced previous controversies, said Monday's allegation was
enough. “I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against
women is a red line,” Khanna said. “These allegations are very serious
and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am
withdrawing my endorsement.”
Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren
announced they were pulling their endorsements and called on Platner to
drop out. The Democratic leaders of Maine's legislature and top
officials at the state Democratic Party did the same.
“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. It is
essential that we refocus this campaign on that struggle,” party chair
Charlie Dingman, vice chair Imke Schessler and executive director Devon
Murphy-Anderson said in a joint statement.
Collins issued only a brief statement.
“These allegations are appalling,” she said. “Nevertheless, it is not up
to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate.”
State law allows Platner to be replaced on the ballot if he withdraws by
July 13. The replacement candidate must be named by July 27.
The Associated Press generally does not name victims of sexual assault,
but in this case Racicot spoke in an interview with Politico.
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A succession of campaign controversies
Platner had never before held elected office, and Democratic leaders
in Washington preferred Gov. Janet Mills in the primary. However,
Mills, 78, dropped out as Platner, 41, consolidated support with
help from progressive leaders at a time when Democratic voters have
grown disenchanted with the party establishment.
While some Democrats came around to support him after his commanding
primary win, Platner's controversial history had already left others
openly despairing of their chances of winning the race. A veteran
who also worked for a private security contractor, Platner has a
chest tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol, reportedly sexted with
other women shortly after getting married and had a history of
inflammatory comments on social media.
In 2013, Platner posted on Reddit that people shouldn’t get so drunk
“they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to” and that
sexual assault victims should “just take some responsibility for
themselves.” He's since apologized for the post and says he no
longer holds those beliefs.
The New York Times also reported that Platner had volatile
relationships with previous girlfriends, one of whom said an
argument became physical. Platner denied the allegation.
Hasan Piker, a leftist commentator and streamer who backed Platner,
seemed to reverse himself Monday following the Politico report.
“If new evidence presents itself, I’m going to change my perspective
— it’s that simple,” Piker said during a livestream on Twitch,
adding: “This is a clear-cut instance of verifiable sexual assault
allegations. It’s completely irredeemable.”
Our Revolution, a progressive organization founded by Sen. Bernie
Sanders of Vermont, said Platner should withdraw because the
allegations “are too serious to treat as a distraction from the
campaign or the issues.”
It also hinted at the potential battle over who would replace
Platner.
“Whoever leads this movement forward must be someone who has
actually lived the fight Graham Platner ran on: a record with
working people, with unions, against corporate money, already tested
and trusted by the same base that delivered this result,” said a
statement from Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our
Revolution.
Platner had pitched himself as a blue-collar oysterman and veteran
who could reach disaffected voters. But as controversies mounted,
some state Democrats had heartburn, embodied by Mills’ refusal to
endorse Platner after she dropped out of the primary. Chatter
circulated about possible replacements, including former state
senator and logger Troy Jackson and Secretary of State Shenna
Bellows.
“I’ve known this has been coming,” said Marie Follayttar, a Democrat
and community organizer in Maine, talking about the growing whispers
inside the state's small population that had been bracing for yet
another revelation surrounding Platner. “I’ve been scared and I’ve
been sick waiting.”
Mike Connelly, a business owner and Democrat in Brunswick, Maine,
said in an interview that he wants Platner to drop out after the
latest allegations. But Connelly said he'd vote for him if he stays
in.
“I would vote for a comatose Democrat before I would vote for Susan
Collins,” Connelly said.
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Jesse Bedayn contributed from Austin, Texas, Meg Kinnard contributed
from Columbia, S.C., and Ali Swenson contributed from New York.
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