Graham Platner, the scandal-plagued progressive military veteran, said Monday he is reflecting on the best path forward for his Maine Senate campaign after another allegation of sexual misconduct was raised against the troubled Democrat.
Platner’s announcement comes after he canceled several events over the July 4 weekend as rumors spread that a “very damaging allegation” would be coming out against the controversial candidate.
On Monday, Politico reported on allegations made by Platner’s former girlfriend that he “forced her to have sex with him nearly five years ago despite her repeated objections.”
Jenny Racicot told the outlet she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner for more than two years when he entered her home in Maine uninvited in late June 2021 “deeply intoxicated” and “forced himself on her while she repeatedly told him to stop.” The report says she cut off contact with Platner after telling him the encounter was not consensual.
“I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” she said. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’”
In a video statement on Monday, Platner called the allegations “categorically false,” but said his campaign is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.”
“You never turned your back on me, and I will not turn my back on you now,” he told his supporters.
Several Democratic lawmakers rescinded their endorsements of Platner on Monday evening, after Politico published its report, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said it would not spend any money in the state if he is the nominee.
“Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins,” said Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a joint statement.
Senator Ruben Gallego (D., Ariz.), meanwhile, called the allegations “troubling and deeply serious,” and Representative Ro Khanna (D., Calif.) said the allegations are “credible,” withdrew his earlier endorsement, and urged Platner to drop out of the race.
Democratic leaders in Maine, including in the state legislature and the state party, also called on Platner to exit the race.
Prominent media figures on the left also called for Platner’s exit from the race, including Pod Save America co-hosts Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer. Progressive streamer Hasan Piker, who previously supported Platner, said the new allegations are “curtains” for Platner’s candidacy, calling the claims “credible” and “completely irredeemable.”
The allegations surfaced on Monday follow several other scandals involving the political newcomer, including other allegations of sexual misconduct.
Racicot previously told the New York Times that she had seen Platner engage in “reckless” and “unsettling behavior.” She now tells Politico she did not previously share the sexual assault allegation because she did not want to be seen as a rape victim. However, after much of the attention around the Times article centered on allegations made by another woman, Lyndsey Fifield, which were dismissed by Platner because of her ties to the GOP, Racicot said she felt the need to come forward with her full story.
Platner’s campaign has been plagued by scandals since October, when CNN and several other outlets uncovered Platner’s past Reddit posts and comments, which included offensive comments about police and sexual assault survivors. Later controversies centered on his Nazi tattoo, his marital infidelity, and his past treatment of women.
Platner has attributed the Reddit commentary to his struggles with PTSD following his time in Iraq and Afghanistan and has denied or dismissed the other accusations.
Platner won the state’s Democratic primary last month after he ran effectively unopposed, with Maine Governor Janet Mills having suspended her own Senate primary campaign one month earlier.
While the former oyster farmer joined the race to unseat incumbent Senator Susan Collins, a moderate Republican, as a political outsider with focus on issues that appeal to a progressive, populist base, including affordability, universal health care, and labor union relations, it eventually became clear that Platner’s past made him a political liability for the Democratic Party.
Platner’s statement about reflecting on the path forward comes just one week ahead of a July 13 deadline for Democrats to replace him on the ballot.