More than half of Senate Democrats had publicly called on Graham Platner to leave Maine’s Senate race by Tuesday afternoon, marking a sharp reversal for a candidate many in the party had continued to back through earlier controversies. The shift came less than a day after a woman who previously dated Platner accused him of sexual assault. Platner has denied the allegation, calling it false, and said his campaign was weighing its next steps.
Among those urging him to exit were Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who said the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee would not invest in the Maine race if Platner remained on the ballot. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a former ally, said he had spoken with Platner and recommended that he step aside in light of what Sanders described as very serious allegations. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who had campaigned for Platner earlier in the year, also said there could be no tolerance for sexual assault. By the latest public tally, 31 of the Senate’s 47 Democratic senators had called for him to drop out, while two others, Ruben Gallego and Sheldon Whitehouse, condemned the allegations and withdrew endorsements without explicitly demanding his withdrawal.
The break with Platner extended beyond Capitol Hill. The Maine Democratic Party called for him to exit the race, and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said it was time for him to end his campaign. Outside groups that had backed him, including VoteVets and End Citizens United, rescinded their endorsements, while Senate Majority PAC said it was redirecting resources away from the contest. Hannah Pingree, the Democratic nominee for governor in Maine, also said the political energy behind Platner’s campaign should be carried forward by a different candidate.
The collapse in support was especially notable because many Democrats had previously stayed with Platner despite a series of earlier scandals involving offensive online comments, a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol, and accusations of mistreatment of women. After Gov. Janet Mills opted not to run, Democrats largely coalesced around Platner and he won the primary with little opposition. If he withdraws before next Monday, Maine law would allow state Democrats to choose a replacement, and several names, including Troy Jackson, Shenna Bellows and Nirav Shah, were being discussed as possible successors. As of Tuesday, Platner had not announced a final decision on whether he would remain in the race.
