Democrats nationwide have bailed on embattled Maine Senate Democratic candidate Graham Platner after a bombshell report accused the leftist oyster farmer of rape.
Politico interviewed 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot, who accused Platner of breaking into her house in 2021 and sexually assaulting her. In a one-two punch, CNN released an interview with Racicot, who described the alleged assault as rape.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) demanded that Platner drop out, calling the rape claims “incredibly disturbing.” Platner’s decisive primary victory in June dealt a major blow to Schumer, who recruited and backed Maine Democratic Governor Janet Mills.
“The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot,” Schumer said in a statement with fellow Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY).
Rep. Ro Khana (D-CA), who has previously defended and attached himself to Platner, also pulled the plug.
“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” Khanna said. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”
I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) July 6, 2026
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) also bailed on the Maine Democrat.
The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious.
I am rescinding my endorsement.
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) July 6, 2026
Hasan Piker, the leftist streamer working overtime to elect socialist candidates, predicted the end of Platner’s campaign.
“That is curtains. That is the trifecta. Okay, that is the trifecta of a reliable allegation. It’s holy sh*t…I believe this, this accusation. I believe this allegation,” Piker said, according to Politico.
The Maine Democratic Party also called on Platner to drop out of the race against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
As of Monday afternoon, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has not publicly weighed in on the bombshell.
Previously, Sanders drew a line in the sand: “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that Graham Platner is the next senator from the state of Maine,” he said.
On the campaign trail, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) embraced Platner in endearing terms.
“That’s my kind of man,” she said before Platner clinched the Democratic nomination. Now, she wants him gone.
“With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race,” Warren said in a statement Monday evening.
The turmoil comes after Racicot told Politico she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner for more than two years before “he entered her rural Maine home uninvited” in late 2021. She described Platner as “deeply intoxicated,” claiming he forced himself on her despite repeatedly telling him to stop.
“I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” she said to Politico. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’”
Racicot said she felt compelled to come forward after other women raised allegations against Platner.
“One of the reasons I didn’t come forward sooner was, the huge moral conflict that I had between supporting his politics, but not supporting him as a person,” she said to Politico. “I just want the truth out there. I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person.”
The woman told POLITICO she connected with Platner on the dating app Bumble in 2019 and had consensual sex with him before the night he allegedly assaulted her. On that night in 2021, she described an “almost blackout drunk” Platner getting on top of her.
“I had been telling him these words, like: ‘No, don’t,’” she recalled to Politico. “And, the look on his face and realizing what was happening, I just realized that, like, I am in a situation where there’s no consent here,” she said.
Weeks after the alleged assault, Racicot said she “struggled with shock and confusion” and did not file a police report. The outlet reviewed messages she sent to friends and spoke to partners who appeared to support her account.
Platner denied the accusations, telling Politico: “These allegations are troubling, serious, and false.” Minutes after the story was published, Platner took to social media.
“Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false,” he said in a two-minute video message. “Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful the political reality it will inflict, we are taking time to reflect on the best path forward…”
Maine Democrats face a July 13 deadline to swap Platner for another Democrat to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
“These allegations are appalling. Nevertheless, it is not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate,” Sen. Collins said in response to the scandal.
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