Democratic leaders including Bernie Sanders call for Graham Platner to exit Maine Senate race after sexual assault allegation

Jul 7, 2026

Maine Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner faces intense pressure to withdraw from his race against Republican Senator Susan Collins after Jenny Racicot accused him of a 2021 sexual assault. Top Democrats, including Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Senator Elizabeth Warren, have rescinded their endorsements. Platner denies the allegations, calling them false and politically coordinated. Under Maine law, Platner must withdraw by July 13, 2026, for Democrats to name a replacement.

Sexual assault allegation details

▪Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old woman who previously dated Graham Platner, accused the Maine Democratic U.S. Senate nominee of entering her home uninvited while drunk in late 2021 and forcing her to have sex.
▪Jenny Racicot did not file a police report at the time of the alleged 2021 incident, and she hesitated to make her claim public due to a conflict between supporting Graham Platner's politics and opposing him as a person.

Democratic calls for withdrawal

▪Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand issued a joint statement calling for Graham Platner to immediately withdraw, stating the committee will not invest in the Maine Senate race if he remains on the ballot.
▪Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ruben Gallego, and Martin Heinrich, along with Representative Ro Khanna and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, withdrew their endorsements and called for Graham Platner to drop out.
▪Senator Bernie Sanders recommended that Graham Platner step aside from the Maine U.S. Senate race following the sexual assault allegation.

Platner denial of accusations

▪Graham Platner denied the sexual assault allegations, calling them false, and claimed they were coached and coordinated by out-of-state establishment operatives.
▪Graham Platner released a video message stating that while the reporting is inaccurate, he is taking time to reflect on the best path forward for his campaign and has canceled town hall events.

Maine ballot replacement deadline

▪Potential Democratic replacements for Graham Platner include Governor Janet Mills, former state Senate President Troy Jackson, and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah.
▪Under Maine election law, Graham Platner must choose to withdraw by 5:00 p.m. on July 13, 2026, for the Democratic Party to have a window until July 27, 2026, to select a replacement candidate.

Platner's previous controversies

▪Prior to the sexual assault allegation, Graham Platner faced controversies regarding a Nazi-linked tattoo, which has since been covered up, and past social media comments that disparaged sexual assault victims.
▪In May 2026, Graham Platner's campaign confirmed reporting that he had exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women toward the start of his marriage.