Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner said Monday that he is taking “time out” to think about the way forward for his 2021 campaign after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her.
Platner, 41, and his campaign denied the allegations made by Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, in a Politico op-ed published Monday. Politico reported that she accused Platner of sexual harassment. Platner is a veteran mariner and oysterman who has been singled out by his team this year for a populist, progressive message.
In a video posted X minutes after the Politico story was published, Platner denied the report but said the campaign is “taking time to think about the best way forward” as he challenges Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, for the hotly contested seat.
“I wanted to directly address the allegations that concern me, are serious, and lies that I am facing. Any accusation of conduct without consent is a real lie,” said Platner. “This organization of hers — the largest volunteer base in the history of Maine politics, hundreds of thousands of grassroots supporters, supporters of diverse views — we were united in the love of Maine, the belief that our politics must change and our focus on defeating Susan Collins.”
Platner has not said that he will leave the campaign, although the pressure to do so is almost there. Platner defeated Gov. Maine incumbent Janet Mills in the June Democratic primary.
Racicot told Politico that she had been in a new relationship with Platner for two years before he barged into her home uninvited in 2021 drunk and forced himself on her over her objections. Racicot said she remembers Platner “grabbing my waist and really forcing me,” and that she cut off contact with him after that.
Politico confirmed Racicot’s account with the man she started dating after Platner, as well as her friend and acquaintance. She also shared the book with her therapist.
The allegations are the latest in a series of allegations of Platner’s ineffectiveness, which have shaken Democrats determined to defeat Collins in Maine. Former Vice President Kamala Harris won Maine by nearly 8 points in 2024, and winning the state’s Senate seat is critical to any Democratic hopes of taking back the Senate in 2026.
The New York Times in June reported that several women who dated Platner recalled “unpleasant” behavior, but that subject did not plead guilty to sexual assault. That article included an excerpt from Racicot’s story, but he said he “refused to elaborate” on what happened after he arrived drunk.
Platner also had a tattoo that closely resembled the Nazi symbol that was covered at the start of the campaign, after photos of the tattoo became public. He said he received the painting while serving in the Marines and denied knowing its Nazi meaning.
Platner has repeatedly relied on his story of military service and the resulting PTSD to explain his past behavior.
Maine law states that a candidate can withdraw from the second Monday in July and be replaced, which gave Platner until July 13 to drop out or continue. Maine Democrats will then need to find Platner’s replacement by July 27, according to Maine law.
Calls for Platner to resign are already pouring in from Democrats.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, DN.M., was an early promoter of Platner’s campaign. In a statement Monday to CNBC, he said: “These are very serious allegations and should be treated as such.”
Donna Brazile, former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said in the X post that “it is time for Mr. Platner to step aside and be replaced on July 13th.”
“Platner needs time to recover, to focus on his family and his well-being. Enough is enough,” he said.
David Axelrod, who ran former President Barack Obama’s campaign, also said in X that “the recent allegations of sexual harassment cannot be explained or justified.”
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