Maine Democrat drops out of Senate race after sexual assault allegation, giving party a chance to replace him

By John Damon | Just The News Iowa

A Maine Democratic Senate candidate has abruptly dropped out of the race after a sexual assault allegation surfaced, leaving the party scrambling to find a replacement to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins this fall.

Graham Platner, a progressive populist and Marine veteran, announced Wednesday he was ending his campaign. The decision came after a woman he dated accused him of sexual assault in 2021, causing key Democratic allies to withdraw their endorsements and call for him to step aside.

In a video posted on X, Platner denied the allegation as false but said it had placed an immense burden on him. He noted that if he continued, he would lose access to fundraising, voter data, and the ability to run a full campaign.

What comes next needs to come from the people of Maine, Platner said. It needs to be open, transparent, and democratic.

We believe that for the movement to continue, it cant be me, he added. Were not doing it because of the allegations. Were doing it because of the structures being taken away from us by those in power.

What happens now for Maine Democrats?

The Maine Democratic Party has until July 27 under state law to replace Platner on the ballot. Party officials said Wednesday evening they would hold a nominating convention to pick a replacement, promising transparency in the process.

It remains unclear who will step forward. Many are already jockeying for the chance to face Collins, who is seeking a sixth six-year term. Collins was first elected in 1996 and initially vowed to serve no more than two terms but later broke that promise.

National Democrats pressured Platner to exit

Platners exit followed strong warnings from national Democratic leaders. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic campaign arm made clear that the national party would not invest in the Maine race if Platner remained on the ballot.

Within hours of the allegation being reported by Politico on Monday, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who had campaigned for Platner in Maine, said there can be no tolerance for sexual assault. Representative Ro Khanna of California called the allegation serious and credible. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, whom Platner had cited as a political model, also advised him to step aside.

Maine is a key battleground for Senate control

Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate this fall. Maine is one of their best opportunities. Apart from Maine and North Carolina, all other Democratic pickup opportunities are in states Donald Trump carried by double digits in 2024, including Ohio, Iowa, Alaska, and Texas. Maine is the only blue-leaning state with a Republican senator.

Platner had won the Democratic primary on June 9 after two-term Governor Janet Mills, the partys establishment choice, failed to gain traction and quit the race in late April. His plainspoken, anti-establishment rhetoric tapped into a rising populism within the Democratic base.

But damaging revelations had piled up before the sexual assault allegation. There was a skull-and-crossbones chest tattoo that Platner said he later covered after learning it carried Nazi associations. There were deleted Reddit posts with controversial comments. There were ex-girlfriends who alleged toxic behavior. And there was a Kik account where he reportedly sent sexually explicit messages to multiple women early in his marriage.

Despite those earlier controversies, prominent progressives like Warren, Khanna, and Sanders had stuck with him until the sexual assault allegation became the breaking point.

In his video message, Platner encouraged his supporters to keep fighting for the values of his campaign. We are going to win some day, he said.

For Iowa voters watching this race, the outcome in Maine could determine which party controls the Senate. With Iowas own Senate race also in play, the stakes are high for conservatives nationwide.

This article is based on reporting from NBC News.