Senate Democratic campaign chiefs Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand on Monday urged Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to withdraw from the race, citing “incredibly disturbing” allegations of sexual assault and abuse reported by Politico. The joint statement from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) leadership marked a swift and forceful break from the first-time candidate, who had been the party’s nominee to challenge Republican incumbent Susan Collins.
“Violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable,” Schumer and Gillibrand said. “Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins.” They added that the DSCC “will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”
The allegations stem from a Politico report that interviewed Maine resident Jenny Racicot, Platner’s former girlfriend. Racicot described an incident in 2021 in which she says Platner sexually assaulted her while she was heavily intoxicated. The outlet reviewed emails between Racicot and her therapist and spoke with an acquaintance who had warned Racicot about Platner years earlier. In a subsequent interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Racicot said she wanted “to get my life back” after staying silent since 2021. She dismissed any suggestion the revelations were politically motivated, noting she supports Platner’s politics and believes “we need somebody with those political stances and who are willing to do the work.”
The fallout has been swift among Democratic lawmakers and allied groups. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), and Florida Senate candidate Alex Vindman all called on Platner to step aside. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) said on X that the allegations are “appalling” and “if accurate, they reveal conduct that is completely unacceptable and incompatible with the integrity we should demand from those seeking office.” He withdrew his support and urged Platner to exit the race. End Citizens United also pulled its endorsement, with President Tiffany Muller stating the alleged conduct “is fundamentally inconsistent with the standards we expect from the candidates we support.”
Maine’s Democratic Party echoed the calls, saying it wants a candidate “who represents our values and who carries our banner.” Left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who had endorsed Platner, said he believed Racicot’s allegations and declared the campaign “curtains.” “It’s irredeemable,” he said on his stream Monday. For more on Piker’s reaction, see our coverage of his statement.
Platner has denied any wrongdoing, accusing Politico’s reporting of “inaccuracy” in a video posted on social media. However, he said he would be “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to and the goal of defeating Susan Collins.” The candidate, a progressive activist, had been seen as a long-shot contender against Collins, who is seeking a fifth term. The controversy has effectively derailed his campaign and left Maine Democrats scrambling for a replacement. For a broader look at the party’s response, see how Democrats have abandoned Platner after the new assault allegation.
The episode underscores the DSCC’s willingness to cut ties with candidates facing serious misconduct allegations, even at the cost of a contested Senate seat. With the general election approaching, the party faces a tight timeline to field a credible challenger to Collins. The situation also highlights the tension between the Democratic establishment and insurgent progressive candidates, a dynamic that has played out in other races this cycle. For more on that broader trend, see how the Mamdani machine routed the New York Democratic establishment in primary upsets.
Caroline Vakil contributed reporting.
