Democratic leaders are calling on Graham Platner to step aside from Maine's US Senate race. This comes after a news outlet published an accusation that he sexually assaulted a woman. The Guardian reported on July 7, 2026, that Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and other party officials made the same request.

According to Politico, a woman named Jenny Racicot said that Platner entered her home without permission in late 2021 while drunk and forced himself on her despite her saying no repeatedly. Racicot, 41 and from Maine, said they had dated on and off for over two years. Politico's report from July 6 included supporting evidence: someone she had told about the incident, emails from her therapist, and old messages where she had warned a friend about Platner. Politico

Platner is an oyster farmer and former Marine. He won Maine's Democratic primary on June 9, which made him the official Democratic candidate to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins. Ballotpedia He says the accusation is false.

Democratic leaders moved quickly. Maine's state Democratic Party said they had learned that multiple women have made serious accusations against Platner, though they did not name them. Maine Democratic Party Several Democratic lawmakers who had supported him—including Representatives Ro Khanna and Ruben Gallego—took back their endorsements. Politico Senator Elizabeth Warren, who had backed him earlier, said he should "step aside."

The Democratic Party committee that funds Senate candidates said it will not spend money on Platner's race. In Maine, most winning campaigns depend on money from national party groups, so this decision seriously hurts his chances of winning, regardless of what happens with the allegations.

Platner has not announced whether he will quit. He said he is "taking the time to reflect" on whether to stay in the race—language that leaves the door open but also gives Democrats a possible moment to push harder. Politico

Maine's Democratic Party is already preparing in case he does withdraw. They released a statement about the legal rules for replacing a nominee if one drops out. Maine Democratic Party If a candidate leaves too close to Election Day, the party has few options to find someone new.

Why this matters: Democrats need to win seats in Maine and a few other states to take control of the Senate next year. If Platner stays in the race amid scandal, the party may have to split its resources and message, making it harder to beat Collins. Party leaders appear to have decided that losing Platner is less risky than defending him.