Democratic leaders moved swiftly Monday to distance themselves from Maine U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner following an accusation of sexual assault by a former girlfriend, triggering a wave of calls for his immediate withdrawal from one of the party’s most crucial Senate races in the 2026 election cycle. The allegations, which surfaced Monday, prompted an immediate and unified response from national party organizations and prominent Democratic figures, many of whom had previously supported Platner's campaign.
"The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing — violence, abuse, and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable." — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, Joint Statement
Within hours of the accusation becoming public, Democratic leaders, national party organizations, and several long-time supporters announced they could no longer endorse Platner’s bid for the Senate. The latest allegation was reported by Politico, which detailed claims from Jenny Racicot, a Maine woman who previously dated Platner. Racicot alleged that Platner forced her to have sex after entering her home in 2021 while intoxicated.
In response to the mounting pressure and public revelation, Platner denied the accusation. In a video posted to social media, he stated, “Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false.” He further indicated that his campaign was “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” as calls for his withdrawal intensified from within his own party ranks.
The reaction from Democratic leadership was unequivocal. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Kirsten Gillibrand issued a joint statement. They declared, “The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing — violence, abuse, and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable.” Their statement went further, asserting that “Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate” and issuing a stark warning that the DSCC “will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Ken Martin echoed these sentiments, stating it was “time for him to end his campaign.” Concurrently, the Maine Democratic Party also publicly called on Platner to step aside, signaling a complete loss of party support at both national and state levels.
Several prominent Democrats who had previously backed Platner’s campaign swiftly rescinded their endorsements. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) urged him to leave the race, emphasizing, “There can be no tolerance for sexual assault.” Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) also withdrew his endorsement, while Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) wrote that allegations involving sexual assault or violence against women are “a red line” and joined the chorus calling for Platner to drop out. Beyond individual lawmakers, influential outside organizations such as Senate Majority PAC, End Citizens United, and Our Revolution also ended their support for Platner’s candidacy, according to reports from Newsmax and Newsweek.
This latest allegation follows weeks of increasing scrutiny over Platner’s campaign, which had already faced criticism for offensive social media posts, reports of inappropriate behavior toward women, and a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol before it was subsequently covered. Despite these earlier controversies, many Democratic leaders had continued to back his campaign, highlighting the severity of the current sexual assault allegation in prompting such a broad and rapid reversal of support.
Democrats now face a rapidly approaching legal deadline that will determine their ability to replace their nominee before the November election if Platner chooses to withdraw. Under Maine law, Platner has until 5 p.m. on July 13 to withdraw if the Democratic Party hopes to name a replacement candidate for the general election. Should he step aside before this critical deadline, the Maine Democratic Party would then have until July 27 to select a new nominee. This timeframe is crucial for the party, as the Maine Senate race is viewed as one of Democrats’ top opportunities to pick up a seat from Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Potential replacement names that have surfaced in political discussions include current Maine Governor Janet Mills, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah, and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. As of Tuesday morning, Graham Platner had not yet announced whether he would remain in the race, leaving the future of the Democratic Party's challenge in Maine uncertain.
