Platner Suspends Campaign After Accusation
Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner ended his campaign for a Maine seat considered vital for his party's midterm hopes on Wednesday night, bowing to pressure after a woman accused him of sexual assault in a Politico exclusive published Monday. He announced his withdrawal in a video on X, ending 72 hours of tension during which Platner tested Democratic patience as prominent figures, including former supporters, publicly urged him to step aside.
Timeline of Withdrawal
Platner's withdrawal opens a process to find a replacement candidate before the July 27 deadline. According to multiple U.S. media outlets, Platner delayed stepping aside because his campaign hoped to influence the decision about who would replace him on the November ballot. In an emotional video, he said, “We are suspending campaign operations. This is incredibly difficult because I know that some will think it’s an admission of guilt, and it most certainly is not.”
Previous Controversies
The latest revelations were not entirely new. Platner, an Army veteran known for his plainspoken style, had already faced reports of inappropriate behavior toward three women. He also drew controversy over a Nazi tattoo he got years ago, which he claimed he did not fully understand at the time. Despite these issues, he won the Democratic primary on June 9 by a wide margin, earning the chance to challenge veteran Republican Senator Susan Collins, one of the few GOP members willing to criticize President Donald Trump.
Allegations That Ended His Candidacy
The allegation that ended his campaign came from Jenny Radicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident who had an on-and-off relationship with Platner for over two years. She alleged that in 2021, he entered her home while drunk and forced himself on her. Radicot was one of three women featured in earlier allegations reported by The New York Times, though she did not accuse him of sexual assault in that publication. Platner denied the allegations, calling them “troubling, serious, and false.”
Loss of Support
Following the Politico report, prominent Democratic senators, Senate party leadership, and several members of Congress withdrew their support. Maine Democrats also urged him to end his campaign and criticized his attempts to influence the choice of his successor. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on Platner to step aside, saying it was “the only appropriate response” to the allegations.
Platner's Defense
Platner previously defended himself against earlier accusations by citing his military service, including post-traumatic stress, depression, and alcohol abuse. He described his inappropriate behavior toward women as a matter of the past. In a statement to The New York Times, he said he had “too often self-medicated with alcohol, and was a far from perfect boyfriend” during a “very dark period of my life.” He added, “I take responsibility for all of that, and wish I had been better. Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated. I’m not proud of who I was then, but I am proud of the work I’ve done since, and the movement we are building in Maine.”
Impact on Maine Senate Race
Four months before an election in which Democrats hoped to flip Maine's Senate seat, Platner's movement has come to an abrupt end. Polls had shown Senator Collins in a vulnerable position, largely due to her age (73) and perceived ties to an aging political leadership. Platner, a progressive who transitioned from oyster farming to politics at age 41, had previously defeated Governor Janet Mills in the primary.
