Democratic support for Graham Platner cratered Monday after the embattled Maine Senate candidate was accused of rape by an ex-girlfriend.
Democrats from across the country, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), one of Platner’s most ardent supporters, and the Maine Democratic Party, called on the former oyster farmer to end his Senate bid amid the disturbing allegation – describing it as “credible.”
“The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable,” Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chairwoman Kirsten Gillibrand said in a joint statement.
“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,” Schumer and Gillibrand continued.
The senators warned that the DSCC – Senate Democrats’ campaign and fundraising arm – “will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”
“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” Khanna wrote on X. “These allegations are very serious and credible.
“Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”
Jenny Racicot, Platner’s ex-girlfriend, alleged in a Politico piece published Monday that the Maine Senate hopeful drunkenly broke into her home and raped her about five years ago.
The rape allegation follows several other disturbing accounts from Platner’s exes, who described enduring alleged physical and mental abuse from the Democratic Senate hopeful in a New York Times story last month.
Khanna notably stood by Platner after the June New York Times piece – in which he was accused of twisting an ex-girlfriend’s arm and yanking her out of taxi cab, and was said to have fantisized about killing people and raping intruders – arguing that Platner “took accountability” for his actions.
Like Khanna, the Maine Democratic Party also called on Platner to drop out of his high-stakes midterm race against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
“Over the past several weeks, multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner. Today’s statements take those allegations even further,” Maine Democratic Party leaders said in a statement.
“Maine Democratic Party leadership is calling on Graham Platner to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for US Senate,” the statement continued.
The party did not say who should take up the mantle should Platner drop out of the race.
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), another staunch Platner supporter, also withdrew his support in light of the rape allegation.
“The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious.I am rescinding my endorsement,” Gallego wrote on X.
Here’s the latest on the bombshell sex allegations against lefty Senate candidate Graham Platner:
Florida Democratic Senate candidate Alex Vindman tweeted: “As a dad and husband, I have zero tolerance for physical or sexual misconduct.”
“I’ve always called balls and strikes regardless of party, and in this case, I believe Graham Platner should immediately drop out,” Vindman declared. “These allegations are extremely serious, disturbing, and disqualifying.”
David Axelrod, former President Barack Obama’s chief strategist, argued “many Mainers were willing to look past previous stories about [Platner]” because of his political message, but “the latest allegation of sexual assault can’t be explained away or excused.”
“Platner seems to know that, too,” Axelrod said in an X post.
In response to the allegation, Platner said his campaign will take time “to reflect on the best path forward.”
Platner described the allegation as “troubling, serious and false.”
