Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday became the latest high-profile Democrat to demand that Graham Platner exit the Maine Senate race, following a report that Platner sexually assaulted a woman he was dating in 2021. In a brief statement, Sanders said he had “spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine” and, “in light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.”
Sanders, a leading progressive voice in the Senate, had been one of Platner’s most prominent endorsers as the candidate sought to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins. The endorsement from Sanders gave Platner’s campaign significant momentum among liberal donors and activists. But the new allegation, first reported by Politico on Monday, has triggered a rapid collapse of support within the Democratic Party.
Several of Sanders’ Senate colleagues who had previously backed Platner have now withdrawn their endorsements. Among them are Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). All have publicly called on Platner to leave the race, with Warren specifically urging him to exit in a statement that echoed Sanders’ concerns.
Senate Democratic leadership has also moved decisively. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, have both demanded Platner step aside. Their calls reflect the party’s urgency to find a viable alternative to challenge Collins in a race that is critical to Democrats’ hopes of retaking the Senate majority in November.
Outside Washington, progressive leaders have joined the chorus. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a prominent figure on the left, has also come out against Platner, urging him to withdraw. The growing pressure from across the party spectrum underscores the seriousness of the allegation and the political liability Platner now represents.
In response, Platner has denied the allegation and paused his campaign, but he has not yet formally withdrawn. The accusation has already reshaped the race: a new candidate, Shah, has entered the contest, and a poll released Tuesday showed that 75% of Maine voters want Platner out after the new assault claim.
The collapse of Platner’s campaign hands Democrats a difficult challenge. With the filing deadline approaching, the party must quickly rally behind a replacement who can mount a credible challenge to Collins, a four-term incumbent who has proven resilient in previous elections. The seat is one of the party’s top pickup opportunities, and the fallout from this scandal could complicate those plans.
As the story continues to develop, all eyes are on Platner’s next move and whether he will heed the calls from Sanders and other party leaders to exit the race entirely.
