The Democratic Senate campaign of Graham Platner in Maine came to an end Wednesday, as he announced he is suspending operations following a sexual assault allegation that cost him nearly all of his political backing.
In a video posted to social media, Platner denied the allegation, saying: "This is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen." He said he and his wife had not sought out politics or wanted to run for office.
Platner alleged the latest report’s timing was connected to his July 13 deadline to withdraw from the race, calling it "the last week to try to get me off of the ballot."
He characterized the response to the allegation, rather than the allegation itself, as the central issue, saying the political system was applying "structural pressure" on his campaign. Platner argued the national Democratic groups and donors had indicated they would not fund the race if he remained the nominee, cutting off his access to fundraising infrastructure and voter data.
Platner said the decision about a path forward should come from Maine voters rather than from party officials, arguing it should not be made "in back rooms by people and places of political power."
He went on to reference a conversation he said he had with his wife, Amy, before entering the race, and said they'd had a similar conversation over the previous two days.
"We believe that for the movement to continue, it can't be me," he said. "And for that reason, we are suspending campaign operations."
The decision comes two days after a woman he previously dated, Jenny Racicot, in prior to the alleged 2021 incident, told Politico he arrived at her home drunk and uninvited and forced her to have sex with him.
His political support collapsed rapidly following the news, with Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) withdrew their endorsements, as did Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). Maine Democratic Party leadership called for his withdrawal, as did Senate Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also said it would not fund the race with him as the nominee.
Potential replacement candidates whose names have circulated include Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former state Sen. Troy Jackson and former Maine CDC director Nirav Shah.
