Democrats are calling for Graham Platner to withdraw from U.S. Senate race in Maine

Democrats across the country are urging Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner to withdraw from the race after newly surfaced sexual assault allegations triggered a rapid and sweeping collapse of party support. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and top Democratic organizations have all publicly called for Platner to step aside, citing both the seriousness of the accusations and the political implications for a critical battleground race.

The Allegations

The controversy erupted after a Politico report in which a Maine woman, Jenny Racicot, alleged that Platner sexually assaulted her in late 2021. Racicot told Politico-and later CNN-that Platner entered her home without permission while intoxicated and forced himself on her, violating "multiple boundaries of consent. "

Racicot's CNN interview was widely seen by many as being very credible.

Racicot said she and Platner had previously had consensual relations but described the 2021 incident as non‑consensual, stating she "felt safest just complying."

Platner has categorically denied the allegations, calling them "troubling, serious and false," and claiming they were politically motivated and "coached and coordinated by out‑of‑state establishment operatives."

Democratic Leaders Withdraw Support

Within hours of the allegations becoming public, Democratic leaders at both the state and national levels distanced themselves from Platner:

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York) called on Platner to "immediately withdraw."

Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, echoed the demand.

The DSCC, DNC, and Senate Majority PAC announced they would cease all investment in the race if Platner remained the nominee.

High‑profile supporters-including Elizabeth Warren, Martin Heinrich, Ro Khanna, Mark Kelly, Jon Ossoff, Cory Booker, Adam Schiff, and Ruben Gallego-publicly withdrew endorsements.

Progressive groups such as Our Revolution, VoteVets, and End Citizens United also rescinded support.

The rapid exodus effectively leaves Platner without institutional backing in what Democrats consider a must‑win race to flip the seat currently held by Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Platner's Response

Platner insists the allegations are false but acknowledges the political fallout. In a video posted to X, he said his campaign is "reflecting on the best path forward" for Maine and for defeating Collins. He emphasized that the goals of his campaign "remain my goals today," despite the controversy.

His campaign argues the timing-just before ballot deadlines-is suspicious and part of a pattern of politically motivated attacks.

What Happens Next

Platner has not yet announced whether he will withdraw. If he stays in the race, Democrats have signaled they will pull funding, endorsements, and organizational support, effectively leaving him isolated in a high‑stakes contest.

The allegations and subsequent political fallout have reshaped the Maine Senate race overnight, raising questions about candidate vetting, party unity, and the broader implications for Democrats' efforts to retake the Senate majority.