Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner withdrew from the 2026 race on Wednesday, July 8, following multiple sexual assault allegations. The deadline to withdraw was July 13, and Democrats now have until July 27 to replace Platner with a new candidate, according to The New York Times. The process for selecting a replacement remains unclear.
Allegations Surface in Politico and Washington Post Reports
Platner’s decision came after a campaign marred by controversy. On Monday, Politico reported that Platner sexually assaulted a woman he had dated intermittently for several years. The following day, The Washington Post published a report in which an ex-girlfriend also accused him of sexual assault.
Jenny Racicot, 41, of Maine, alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited while intoxicated in 2021. “I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” Racicot told Politico. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, ‘This is no longer my choice.’”
Platner Denies Allegations, Cites Political Reality
Shortly after the Politico story, Platner denied the allegations in a social media video. “Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false,” he said. “Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, we’re mindful the political reality will inflict. We are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins.”
Lyndsey Fifield, 41, who dated Platner from 2013 to 2015, told The Washington Post that Platner removed condoms during sex without her consent at least six times, an act known as “stealthing.” “I confronted him both during and after [sex] because he knew that I was not on birth control and how dangerous that was,” Fifield said. “He would act like cute about it, like, ‘Oh, sneaky me.’” Platner denied the stealthing allegation to The Post.
Additional Allegations and Lost Endorsements
Fifield was among several women featured in a New York Times report last month that accused Platner of alarming behavior, including physical roughness, yanking her out of a cab, twisting her arm behind her back, and refusing to let her leave a room. She also said he fantasized about killing and raping people. Platner’s campaign told the Times that he “strongly disputes” the physical intimidation claims.
On Monday and Tuesday, Platner lost numerous endorsements, including from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna and Ruben Gallego. The Maine Democratic Party leadership called on Platner to withdraw, stating, “Maine Democratic Party leadership takes seriously our responsibility to hold every candidate who seeks to represent our state to the highest standard. Over the past several weeks, multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner. Today’s statements take those allegations even further. Maine Democratic Party leadership is calling on Graham Platner to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.”
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also threatened to stop investing in Maine’s Senate race if Platner did not drop out. An unnamed source told The New York Times that Platner would only consider withdrawing “with a guarantee of being replaced by a candidate who he believes is true to the values and vision and policy agenda of the campaign that Maine voted for.”
Other Scandals Plague Campaign
The sexual assault allegations added to several other scandals, including a now-removed tattoo associated with Nazis, explicit text messages to women not his wife, and misogynistic online posts. Need help? Visit RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.
