Overview
- Politico published an interview on Monday in which Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend, said Graham Platner came to her home in late 2021, was heavily intoxicated and forced sex on her, and the report says it reviewed therapist correspondence and a confidant’s account that matched her description.
- Platner has categorically denied the allegation, released a video saying he is “taking time to reflect on the best path forward,” and canceled or postponed multiple town halls and events in the days around the report.
- Within hours leading Democrats rescinded endorsements and the Maine Democratic Party and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee publicly urged Platner to withdraw, with the DSCC saying it will withhold funding if he stays on the ballot.
- Maine law gives the party until 5 p.m. on July 13 to accept a voluntary withdrawal and until July 27 to name a replacement, a narrow window that would determine whether Democrats can field an alternate candidate against Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
- The allegation compounds earlier controversies — a covered tattoo linked to Nazi imagery, derogatory online posts and reports of explicit messages to women — and has already prompted Republican groups to increase ad activity that could shape the race if Democrats must scramble to substitute a nominee.