The Democratic U.S. Senate candidate for Maine, Graham Plotner, has withdrawn from the race following credible accusations of rape and revelations of past problematic behavior. The allegations have prompted a swift departure from the party's endorsement, which had initially stood by the candidate.
Plotner faced multiple accusations, including a serious claim of rape from a liberal ex-girlfriend, Jenny Racicot. Racicot alleged that Plotner forcibly raped her in 2021 after entering her home uninvited. This claim gained prominence after a New York Times report that, according to some accounts, downplayed the severity of accusations and focused on a conservative accuser while burying the rape allegation.
Earlier reports surfaced two months prior to his withdrawal, stemming from Reddit posts where Plotner allegedly minimized sexual assault and suggested victims bore responsibility if they became intoxicated. These comments were initially dismissed by some as old or irrelevant, with justifications including PTSD, which critics argued was an insult to military veterans. Plotner, 41, reportedly made these posts a decade ago.
Further scrutiny revealed Plotner's use of the messaging app Kik, where he allegedly sent explicit messages to underage individuals under the alias "P Hustle," a detail highlighted by Senator John Fetterman, who had previously labeled Plotner a "creep" and "dirtbag."
Following his marriage in 2023, Plotner was also accused of sexting at least six women. At the time, Democratic supporters described him as "a good, decent man who’s struggled and grown."
The controversy also ensnared The New York Times, a publication that played a significant role in the Me Too movement. Reporter Jodi Kantor, a Pulitzer Prize winner for her work on Me Too, suggested that Plotner's alleged infractions were "mostly made in the context of consensual relationships," a statement that drew criticism for its perceived leniency.
Additionally, Plotner's past embrace of Nazi imagery, including a "Totenkopf" tattoo and reportedly referring to his penis as "Mein Fuhrer," drew comparisons to the party's criticism of others for perceived Nazi affiliations. This aspect of his past contrasted sharply with the Democratic Party's vocal opposition to fascism.
The withdrawal leaves Democrats in a challenging position as they select a replacement candidate. The situation has drawn parallels to past candidate controversies faced by the party, highlighting ongoing struggles with vetting and public perception.