Maine Democratic Senate Candidate Graham Platner Withdraws After Allegations

Graham Platner has formally withdrawn his candidacy for the U.S. Senate race in Maine, according to a letter sent to the Maine Secretary of State's office on Friday. The withdrawal follows Platner's announcement earlier this week that he was suspending his campaign.

Platner's departure comes in the wake of a sexual assault allegation, which he has publicly denied. Politico published a report detailing the allegation from Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend, who claims Platner forced her into non-consensual sex five years ago. Platner has called the allegation "categorically false."

The Maine Secretary of State's office confirmed it has received Platner's notice of withdrawal. Platner won the state's Democratic primary in June with over 70% of the vote. The race was considered closely watched as Democrats aimed to regain control of the Senate.

Earlier this week, Platner had privately informed staff of his intention to file withdrawal paperwork on Monday, the deadline to do so. His exit followed pressure from prominent Democrats, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who had previously supported his campaign focused on economic inequality.

The Maine Democratic Party now has until July 27 to select a new nominee to replace Platner. The party had previously voted to hold a convention to choose a replacement to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

In his withdrawal letter, Platner stated that Maine voters are seeking change and a furthered "American experiment." He added, "My name may have been on the ballot, but that ballot line belongs to the people of Maine."

Platner's campaign had faced other controversies, including reports of sending sexually explicit texts to multiple women and a past tattoo with Nazi symbolism. Platner explained that he was unaware of the tattoo's association and covered it upon learning its meaning. Regarding the explicit text messages, he stated that he and his wife experienced a difficult time due to his actions, but asserted that voters prioritize fighting for their economic well-being over gossip.