WASHINGTON — Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on Tuesday called on Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner to withdraw from the race, one day after a woman accused Platner of forcibly having sex with her nearly five years ago — an allegation he has denied.
Sanders, one of Platner’s most prominent national supporters and a key progressive backer of his campaign, issued a statement saying he had spoken directly with the candidate. “I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine,” Sanders said. “In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.”
Sanders, a Vermont independent who aligns with Senate Democrats, is among a growing number of Democratic figures turning away from Platner. Senate Democratic leadership and their affiliated super PAC have both announced they will not put money into Maine — a competitive battleground state that Democrat Kamala Harris carried in 2024 — as long as Platner remains the nominee.
The stakes for Democrats are significant. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority, meaning Democrats would need to gain a net of four seats to take control. Losing Maine would make that task considerably more difficult, forcing the party to hold on in Georgia and Michigan — both won by President Donald Trump in 2024 — while also flipping four Republican-held seats in states such as North Carolina, Ohio, Alaska, Iowa, and Texas.
While Trump’s margin in North Carolina was relatively narrow at 3 percentage points, he won the remaining states by double digits, highlighting the steep climb Democrats face.
Platner has largely gone quiet since posting a social media video Monday in which he said he was taking time “to reflect on the best path forward.”
Under Maine election rules, Platner can be replaced on the ballot if he withdraws by July 13. The Maine Democratic Party would then have until July 27 to choose a new nominee.
Potential candidates wasted no time positioning themselves Tuesday. Former state Senate President Troy Jackson filed federal paperwork to establish an exploratory committee, allowing him to begin raising money, according to the Bangor Daily News.
Nirav Shah, the former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, also weighed in, calling for an open and transparent selection process. “Anyone running for this nomination should agree to at least one televised debate and hold multiple public town halls across every corner of the state,” Shah wrote on X, pointedly describing himself as “not an establishment politician” or “an insider.”
