Graham Platner Withdraws from Maine Senate Race Amid Allegations

Graham Platner announced his withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race in Maine on Wednesday, citing a rape allegation that has caused significant fallout for his campaign.

In a video, he stated, “We believe that for the movement to continue, it can’t be me,” and emphasized that his decision was not an admission of guilt. The controversy escalated after a Politico report revealed that Jenny Racicot accused him of entering her home in 2021 while intoxicated and sexually assaulting her.

Platner denied the allegation, asserting that any claim of non-consensual behavior is "categorically untrue." Prior to the report, Racicot had described Platner's behavior as "unsettling" in a New York Times article but did not disclose the alleged rape. Following the allegations, prominent Democrats, including Representatives Ro Khanna and Senators Ruben Gallego and Elizabeth Warren, withdrew their endorsements.

The Maine Democratic Party also urged him to end his campaign, and the organization responsible for electing Senate Democrats announced it would not support his candidacy if he remained in the race. Platner had until July 13 to withdraw for the party to select a replacement before the July 27 deadline.