Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner announced Wednesday that he intends to drop out of the race after a woman accused him of sexual assault, collapsing a once-promising insurgent campaign that had survived months of controversy before unraveling at a critical moment for the Democratic Party.
Platner’s departure is expected to widen the rift between moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic Party as the party works to present a unified front heading into this year’s midterm elections.
Maine has been identified as a pivotal state in the battle for control of the narrowly divided Senate, and Democrats were counting on finding a candidate who could unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins at a time when President Donald Trump’s approval ratings are low.
Platner posted an 11-minute video to social media in which he called for the process of replacing him to be “open, transparent and democratic” and said it should reflect the values of those who supported his campaign. He also directed sharp criticism at Democratic leadership in Washington.
“People in D.C. need to stay in D.C.,” Platner said. “Decisions should not be made by people in places of political power.”
In the video, Platner appeared emotional at times, sitting on what looked like a wooden deck with the sound of passing traffic in the background. He occasionally scratched his beard and glanced away from the camera. He also emphasized that stepping aside was not an admission of guilt.
Despite never having held elected office, Platner drew strong support from progressive leaders over Gov. Janet Mills, who was the preferred choice of the Democratic establishment. Mills exited the race in late April as Platner — a military veteran and oyster farmer — built momentum among primary voters looking for a more aggressive candidate. Many of those voters were willing to set aside his troubled background, which included a tattoo associated with a Nazi symbol and online posts that dismissed sexual assault.
Even before Platner secured the Democratic nomination in the June 9 primary, reports surfaced that he had sent sexually explicit messages to other women while married and had become physical with a former girlfriend during a dispute.
However, his support held until Monday, when Politico published a report in which a woman said Platner drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop.
Jenny Racicot, a Maine resident, told Politico she had been in an on-and-off relationship with Platner but cut off all contact after that night in 2021, having told him the encounter was not consensual. In a subsequent CNN interview, she said she had been raped “by definition.”
After Politico published the story, Platner released a video denying the allegation as “categorically false” but said he would be “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” for his campaign. Key supporters quickly withdrew their backing, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who said he spoke with Platner and that “in light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.”
Maine state law provides a mechanism for Democrats to replace Platner before the general election. The state Democratic Party held an emergency meeting Wednesday, where more than 100 state committee members voted to hold a nominating convention in the event of Platner’s withdrawal.
Less than an hour later, Platner made his announcement.
Under state law, party officials can name a new nominee if the primary winner withdraws by 5 p.m. on July 13. A replacement candidate must be chosen by July 27.
Democrats need to flip four Senate seats to take control of the 100-member chamber, and party leaders have identified Maine as a key target alongside Alaska, Ohio, and North Carolina.
Questions about Platner’s background emerged almost as soon as he launched his campaign last year. News organizations uncovered old Reddit comments that appeared to endorse political violence, dismiss rape in the military, criticize rural Americans, and use anti-gay slurs.
There was also significant controversy surrounding a skull-and-crossbones tattoo on his chest, which is widely recognized as a Nazi symbol. Platner said he had no knowledge of the tattoo’s history and got it while drunk and on military leave with fellow Marines in Croatia. He covered the tattoo after entering the race and said in an October 21 interview on the Pod Save America podcast that he was “not a secret Nazi.”
“Skulls and crossbones are a pretty standard military thing,” Platner added.
However, a former girlfriend told The New York Times that Platner used to joke about the tattoo being a Nazi symbol, calling it “my Totenkopf.”
The tattoo and the online comments raised alarms among Democrats who felt Platner had not been properly vetted and showed poor judgment. Some party leaders had already begun to doubt his electability before the allegations about his past relationships emerged.
Prior to Politico’s report, Platner had canceled several town hall events planned across the state — a signature element of his campaign, which had prided itself on reaching voters everywhere. Campaign volunteers had organized happy hours and trivia nights to build enthusiasm for Platner, 41, as a generational alternative to Collins, who is 73.
At a moment when many Democrats are frustrated with the party establishment, Platner had positioned himself as a compelling outsider. His commanding presence and populist focus on economic inequality resonated with voters who were also willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on past controversies, as he framed himself as someone who had made mistakes but was working to improve.
He sometimes spoke openly about his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and emphasized the importance of redemption. Before the sexual assault allegation became public, some supporters said they wouldn’t want to be judged solely on their own worst moments.
Among Platner’s progressive backers was Rep. Ro Khanna of California, whose support evaporated quickly after Racicot came forward.
“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” Khanna said Monday. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”
Sonja Birthisel, a Democrat and data analyst from Orono, Maine, voted for Platner in the primary but said he made the right call by withdrawing.
“My hope for the future of our democracy is that we can hold all of our elected officials to higher standards,” she said.
The 38-year-old also pushed back on the notion that the Maine race is simply a stand-in for a broader national fight between moderates and progressives.
“Maine is a big small town,” she said. “I’d really love to see out-of-state influence and out-of-state money keep out of our beeswax as much as possible.”
