Democratic Senate candidate in Maine ends campaign after sexual assault allegations

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Democratic Senate candidate in Maine ends campaign after sexual assault allegations
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Progressive U.S. Senate candidate halts campaign after sexual assault allegations
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Democratic Senate candidate in Maine ends campaign after sexual assault allegations

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Progressive U.S. Senate candidate halts campaign after sexual assault allegations

about 13 hours ago

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Graham Platner, the progressive Democratic Senate candidate from Maine, abruptly ended his campaign on Wednesday after a former partner accused him of sexual assault, dealing a major blow to the party’s hopes of flipping the seat in November’s midterm elections. The withdrawal, announced in a video posted from his home, followed a rapid collapse of support from Democratic leaders and progressive allies who had once hailed him as a rising star.

Platner, 41, a military veteran and oyster farmer with no prior political experience, had surged to a commanding 72% victory in the June Democratic primary, positioning him as a formidable challenger to Republican Senator Susan Collins, who has held the seat for nearly three decades. His campaign, built on anti-establishment rhetoric and appeals to working-class voters, resonated with young progressives and drew endorsements from figures like Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. “I wanted to fight for working people,” Platner said in one of his campaign videos, which went viral for its raw, unpolished style.

The allegations emerged publicly this week, with a former girlfriend accusing Platner of assault. He has vehemently denied the claims, calling them “categorically false” and insisting his withdrawal was not an admission of guilt. “I know some will think this is a confession,” Platner said in his video statement. “It is not.” Party leaders, including Maine Governor Janet Mills—who had initially run against him—withdrew their support after the accusations surfaced, leaving Platner isolated. “Those in power have taken the ground from under my feet,” he said, adding that he would only submit the paperwork to end his campaign if the party did not replace him with a “party insider.”

The scandal has exposed deep divisions within the Democratic Party, pitting progressive factions against the establishment. Progressive leaders like Sanders and Warren had backed Platner’s insurgent bid, while party officials favored Mills, a more conventional candidate. Platner’s exit leaves Democrats scrambling to find a replacement capable of unseating Collins, the only Republican senator from a state that voted for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in 2024. With Republicans holding a narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate, the Maine race is seen as critical to Democrats’ chances of regaining control.

Patrick Dempsey, the actor and Maine native, has been floated as a potential Democratic candidate, though he has not commented on the possibility. Meanwhile, Republicans have seized on the controversy. Former President Donald Trump, who has endorsed Collins, defended Platner in remarks to reporters, calling the situation a “bind” for the Democrats. “It’s really a question of whether or not you believe the woman,” Trump said aboard Air Force One, a remark that underscored the political minefield the allegations have created.

For Democrats, the fallout from Platner’s withdrawal is more than a local setback—it’s a test of their ability to balance progressive energy with electoral pragmatism. Platner’s campaign had embodied the party’s push to appeal to working-class voters disillusioned with traditional politics. His collapse leaves a void that may be hard to fill in time for November. As one analyst noted, “Maine is ground zero for Senate control,” and the Democrats’ path to a majority now hinges on finding a candidate who can inspire the same grassroots enthusiasm without the baggage of scandal.

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