Graham Platner, the embattled Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, has officially withdrawn from the U.S. Senate race, submitting a formal letter to state election officials on Friday. The move comes just days after a rape allegation and other sexual misconduct claims surfaced, prompting a wave of calls from top Democrats for him to step aside.
Platner posted the July 10 letter on social media, thanking the 156,084 Mainers who voted for him in last month's Democratic primary. In the letter, he argued that his campaign represented «a new kind of politics» focused on issues such as Medicare for All, stronger unions, and limiting the influence of billionaires. He concluded the letter with the phrase, «F**k ICE. Free Palestine. Up the Hearts.»
The withdrawal follows a tumultuous week for Platner, who had been challenging longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins in a high-profile race that was seen as a key battleground for control of the Senate. Platner announced on Wednesday that he was suspending his campaign operations, saying, «For the movement to continue, it can’t be me.»
The controversy began when Maine resident Jenny Racicot told CNN that Platner «raped» her by «dictionary definition,» and later told Politico that he forced her to have sex against her will five years ago. Platner has denied the allegation. A second allegation emerged from The Washington Post, in which ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield accused Platner of removing condoms during sex after she explicitly directed him to wear them. Fifield had previously accused Platner of physical misconduct in a New York Times report, including grabbing her hard enough to leave marks and twisting her arm behind her back. Platner’s campaign called the latest allegations «categorically false and politically motivated,» noting Fifield’s past work for the conservative Heritage Foundation.
In a video announcement addressing the allegations, a visibly angry Platner said, «This is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It is not real.» He has repeatedly denied all accusations of violence and misconduct.
Platner, a Marine Corps combat veteran and oyster farmer, had emerged as the all-but-certain party nominee after two-term Governor Janet Mills suspended her bid in the spring, trailing Platner in fundraising and polling. His campaign was fueled by a populist message and an endorsement from progressive Senator Bernie Sanders. However, his path to the nomination was marred by multiple controversies, including past inflammatory online comments on a now-deleted Reddit account and a tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol, which he later covered up. Reports also surfaced that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married, and ex-girlfriends described a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking, and violent episodes.
Despite these issues, Platner won the Democratic primary in a landslide on June 9, riding a populist wave. In his victory speech, he emphasized personal change, saying, «If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change. And the reason I believe that is because I have lived it.»
The mounting allegations drew a growing chorus of calls for Platner to quit the race, from establishment figures like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to progressive allies. The withdrawal came just before a critical 5 p.m. Monday deadline, which, if missed, would have prevented Maine Democrats from replacing Platner on the general election ballot. The race against Senator Collins, a moderate Republican seeking a fifth term, was seen as one of a handful that could determine whether the GOP retains its slim Senate majority in November.
Platner’s campaign had struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder from his three tours in Iraq with the Marines and one tour in Afghanistan with the Army National Guard. He had apologized for his Reddit posts after they made headlines following his campaign launch. The scandal has effectively ended a campaign that once held promise for Democrats seeking to flip a Senate seat in a state that has trended blue in recent years.
