Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine, has suspended his campaign, citing mounting controversies and calls from within his party to step aside. Platner was challenging Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race considered crucial for the balance of power in the Senate.
Platner's withdrawal comes just days after an explosive report detailed allegations of rape from a woman he previously dated. Jenny Racicot told CNN that Platner sexually assaulted her five years ago while he was heavily intoxicated. The report also included corroborating emails between Racicot and her therapist. In a statement, Platner denied the allegations, calling them "troubling, serious, and false."
This is not the first controversy to plague Platner's campaign. He also faced accusations of removing condoms during sex with a former girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, after she had explicitly requested their use. Platner's campaign dismissed these claims as "categorically false and politically motivated."
Earlier in his campaign, Platner drew criticism for past inflammatory online comments made on a now-deleted Reddit account, a covered-up tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol, and reports of exchanging sexually explicit messages with several women while married. Allegations from ex-girlfriends also surfaced regarding a history of rape fantasies and violent episodes. Platner has repeatedly denied the allegations of violence.
Despite these controversies, Platner secured a landslide victory in the June 9 Democratic Senate primary. However, the accumulating allegations led to widespread calls for his withdrawal from prominent Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). Schumer stated that "violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable" and urged Platner to withdraw to allow Maine Democrats to select a new candidate.
The DSCC announced it would not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remained on the ballot, and the Senate Majority PAC redirected its resources away from the state. Other notable figures, including Rep. Ro Khanna, Sen. Ruben Gallego, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, rescinded their endorsements of Platner. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who had initially backed Platner, also recommended he step aside in light of the serious allegations.
Platner's decision to suspend his campaign before the July 13 deadline allows the Maine Democratic Party to nominate a replacement for the general election ballot. The party has until July 27 to select a new nominee.
Platner, a Marine Corps veteran, had built a strong campaign with early support from Sanders and significant fundraising. Recent polls indicated a close general election contest against Sen. Collins, who is seeking her sixth term in the Senate. Republicans currently hold a slim 53-47 majority in the Senate.