SouthernWorldwide.com – Democrats have swiftly distanced themselves from Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner following a rape allegation that has led to widespread revolt among his key supporters and calls for him to withdraw from the campaign.
These defections intensified after Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident, publicly accused Platner of rape in interviews with Politico and CNN. She alleges that Platner entered her home uninvited and intoxicated nearly five years ago and sexually assaulted her despite her attempts to resist.
Racicot, who was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Platner at the time, informed Politico that she severed ties with him immediately after the alleged incident. She described the moment as one where she felt her choice was taken away.
She further stated to CNN that the encounter fit the “dictionary definition” of rape.
Platner responded by issuing a statement denying Racicot’s account and indicated he was “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” for his struggling campaign.
However, the majority of Democrats indicated on Monday that they were not prepared to grant Platner that time, with numerous lawmakers releasing statements urging him to end his Senate bid immediately.
These calls came from both progressive supporters and the party’s establishment wing, many of whom had only recently backed Platner after he secured the Democratic primary nomination in June.
“There can be no tolerance for sexual assault,” stated Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a prominent Platner supporter, as she rescinded her endorsement. She added that the best course of action for Platner is to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address the allegations outside the context of the Senate race.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who had closely aligned himself with Platner, also withdrew his endorsement. He urged Platner to exit the race after the rape allegation surfaced.
Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., also rescinded their support. Gallego, however, stopped short of calling for Platner to suspend his campaign.
Progressive lawmakers had continued to support Platner even after Lyndsey Fifield, a former girlfriend, accused the Maine Democrat of abuse in June. Platner had consistently denied these accusations, labeling them as false and politically motivated.
Khanna had notably traveled to Maine to campaign with Platner the day after The New York Times first reported Fifield’s accusation.
The reaction from establishment Democrats was equally swift. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., publicly demanded that Platner “immediately” suspend his campaign to allow the party time to select a new nominee.
These senior Democrats had only recently endorsed Platner following his June primary victory. This came after their preferred candidate, Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, withdrew from the race due to fundraising challenges.
“The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot,” the two leaders stated in a joint announcement on Monday.
The Senate Majority PAC, a major outside spending group aligned with Schumer that focuses on electing Democrats to the Senate, also announced on Monday that it would redirect its resources away from Maine as long as Platner was the party’s candidate.
This warning comes as Democrats face a tight deadline to replace Platner as the party’s nominee. According to Maine law, Platner can be removed from the ballot if he withdraws by 5 p.m. on July 13. The state party then has until July 27 to put forward a replacement.
Democrats consider Maine a key opportunity to flip a Senate seat and regain control during the November midterm elections. However, Platner’s rapidly deteriorating campaign could jeopardize these plans.
His numerous controversies, including a past Nazi-linked tattoo and accusations of infidelity during his marriage, have significantly divided Democrats as they aim to unseat longtime Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Sen. Collins issued a statement on Monday describing the rape accusation as “appalling” but refrained from commenting on whether Platner should continue his campaign.
Other lawmakers from the party’s centrist wing, including Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., also publicly urged Platner to end his campaign. Neither had formally endorsed Platner prior to the rape allegation emerging on Monday.
Many prominent Maine Democrats also called for Platner to withdraw from the Senate race on Monday. This included Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, and her daughter, former State House Speaker Hannah Pingree, D-Maine, who is the Democratic gubernatorial nominee succeeding Mills.
Former Maine public health official Nirav Shah and State Sen. Troy Jackson, D-Maine, both of whom vied for the open gubernatorial seat and have been discussed as potential Platner replacements, also stated on Monday that he should withdraw his candidacy. Jackson, who had campaigned with Platner, was among the candidates Platner had endorsed to succeed Mills.
A significant number of left-wing organizations also rescinded their support for Platner on Monday.
“The allegations reported today are profoundly disturbing and disqualifying,” said Tiffany Muller, president of the Democratic-affiliated group End Citizen United, in a statement. She added that the described conduct is fundamentally at odds with the standards expected of supported candidates.
VoteVets, an organization that supports electing Democratic veterans, also withdrew its endorsement of Platner, who has served in multiple overseas deployments. Meanwhile, Our Revolution, a progressive organization founded by former Bernie Sanders campaign staffers, called for Platner to leave the race and demanded that his successor uphold his far-left policy positions.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., one of Platner’s few remaining progressive allies, had not commented on the sexual assault allegation as of late Monday evening.
Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker also broke with Platner on Monday, stating that “the accusations — they are as credible as it is going to get.”
“This is beyond red flags. This is irredeemable,” Piker remarked during his livestream.
