Maine Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner (center) and Planned Parenthood Federation CEO Alexis McGill Johnson (center-right) during a campaign event with abortion rights advocates in Portland, Maine, U.S., Monday, June 22, 2026.
Mel Musto | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Pressure is mounting on Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner to withdraw from the race after being sexually assaulted by a Maine woman. It’s a stunning fall for a once-dominant candidate whose candidacy has been dented for months by personal scandals as Democrats seek to capture New England’s only Republican seat.
Platner has denied allegations that he forced himself on Jenny Racicot, 41, of Maine, in 2021. The 41-year-old oyster merchant and military veteran gained national attention for his brash demeanor and progressive message before defeating incumbent Democratic Gov. Janet Mills in the June primary. But his embattled candidacy faces an almost insurmountable challenge, as some of the Democratic Party’s earliest and most ardent supporters called for his resignation the day after Politico revealed the allegations against him.
This race is critical for both parties, as Republicans aim to maintain their Senate majority and Democrats aim to take control of the Senate. The key to each party’s plan is whether to protect or defeat incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who is serving five terms.
Platner said in a video statement Monday that he is considering the next steps for his campaign. Pressure to withdraw from the race increased on Tuesday after his closest ally, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, called on him to pull out.
“I spoke with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine,” Sanders said in a statement Tuesday. “In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he resign.”
Even if Mr. Platner resigns by July 13, Democrats have until July 27 to field another candidate. That would set off a mad scramble among the state’s Democrats to find a suitable candidate to take on Collins in a competitive race. The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rates him as “leaning” toward Republicans.
Some former candidates in this year’s gubernatorial, Senate and House primaries have already expressed interest in voting to replace Mr. Platner. The names include gubernatorial runner-up Nirav Shah, former Platner ally Troy Jackson and former Senate candidate Dan Kleban.
In a statement posted to X, Shah said, “I have been discussing the future with my wife, team, and Maines in the state, and am considering whether to run for the Senate.”
According to the Bangor Daily News, Jackson has filed an application with the Federal Election Commission to consider running for office.
And Kleban, the founder of a successful brewery, quipped, using his company’s motto, as if to show interest.
“Maine deserves a senator who will fight the D.C. establishment on our behalf and do the right thing at the same time,” he said in a post on
