Graham Platner, the combative Maine oyster farmer and Marine veteran who upended the plans of Democratic leaders to run a moderate against Republican Senator Susan Collins, suspended his campaign on Wednesday in the wake of new sexual assault allegations, paving the way for another candidate to take his place on the November ballot.
“We believe for the movement to continue, it can’t be me and for that reason, we are suspending campaign operations,” Platner said in an extended video message posted online in which he continued to deny the allegations
Platner's withdrawal comes two days after Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident, told Politico that Platner entered her home in 2021 "deeply intoxicated" and forced her to have sex with him. Racicot said she had an "on-and-off relationship" with Platner at the time. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice,’” she said.
Soon after Racicot’s allegations became public on Monday, prominent Platner supporters began rescinding their endorsements and encouraging him to drop out. Platner's campaign had already been defined by scrutiny of his past online comments and a tattoo appearing to resemble Nazi iconography that he later covered up.
Platner’s exit scrambles Democrats’ plans to regain control of the Senate for the final two years of Donald Trump’s presidency. Democrats need to flip four Senate seats and Collins is one of their top targets.
Platner was never the top choice of Democratic leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who had recruited Maine Gov. Janet Mills to run. But Mills, who would have become the oldest freshman Senator ever if elected at age 79, found her Senate bid overshadowed by Platner’s momentum, even as concerns about his vulnerabilities mounted. She suspended her campaign in April and Platner went on to win the June primary with 72% of the vote.
Democrats in Washing
