Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine, is facing mounting pressure to drop out of the race following an allegation of sexual assault, which he’s denied.
Platner, a military veteran, oyster farmer and first-time candidate, launched his campaign against GOP Sen. Susan Collins last August in one of the most competitive U.S. Senate races on the ballot this year. Platner’s unique background and an economic populist platform generated national attention and buzz, but also scrutiny amid a series of controversies and scandals related to his personal life.
The latest revelations came Monday from Politico, which reported an on-the-record allegation of sexual assault from one of Platner’s ex-girlfriends. Platner and his campaign categorically denied the allegations. In a video statement Monday, Platner emphasized his denial while saying he and his campaign would be “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.”
The latest report came amid mounting rumors on social media and in Washington that another damaging article on Platner was set to be released, speculation fueled by the Platner campaign’s cancellation and postponement of a series of planned events.
In the wake of the bombshell Politico report, several Democrats and groups that had endorsed Platner, including the Maine Democratic Party, Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund, rushed to withdraw their endorsements and called on him to drop out of the race.
If Platner drops out before 5 p.m. on July 13, Maine Democrats would have until July 27 to replace Platner on the ballot. Some potential replacements that have been floated include former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, former Maine CDC director Nirav Shah and Secretary of State Shanna Bellows, all of whom ran in the crowded Democratic primary for governor won by Hannah Pingree, as well as Jordan Wood, who ran in the Democratic primary for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.
Platner’s campaign galvanized supporters looking for a fighter to take on Collins, despite some of the controversies surrounding him.
Last year, Platner was revealed to have gotten a tattoo of a skull-and-crossbones symbol adopted by a Nazi paramilitary unit. He said he was unaware of the symbol’s associations when he got it in Croatia while serving in the military and has since gotten it covered up. He has also apologized for past social media posts on Reddit, including some in which he appeared to blame survivors of sexual assault in the military, saying his most prolific online posting came at a personal low point.
Platner has come under further scrutiny for his relationships with women. Platner’s wife had internally flagged Platner’s sexually explicit texts with other women as a potential liability at the start of his Senate campaign, The Wall Street Journal and New York Times reported in May. Amy Gertner, Platner’s wife, said in a statement to The Times that their marriage is “stronger than ever before” and that she was “deeply hurt” by the former campaign aide she said she confided in.
And in June, The Times further reported on accounts from some of Platner’s past girlfriends who recounted him displaying sometimes volatile, troubling behavior toward them. Platner acknowledged he was not “a perfect boyfriend” in past relationships, citing his untreated PTSD at the time, but he and his campaign have called the most serious accusations outlined in The Times’ article false and “politically motivated.”
Up until now, the steady drip of stories hasn’t thwarted his momentum. He became the presumptive Democratic nominee after Gov. Janet Mills, who had been recruited into the race by national Democrats and suspended her Senate campaign in April. He continued to draw donations and large crowds after the publication of prior media coverage.
