Graham Platner's path to the U.S. Senate from Maine hit a major snag this week when a woman came forward with allegations of sexual assault, threatening to derail his already scandal-plagued campaign against Republican incumbent Susan Collins.
Jenny Racicot, 41, told Politico that Platner, a former Marine and oyster farmer who won the Democratic nomination, forced her to have sex in late 2021 despite her repeated objections. Racicot said she and Platner had dated on and off for more than two years before the alleged incident, which she described as occurring when an intoxicated Platner entered her unlocked home uninvited.
Platner flatly rejected the claims. "These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue," he said in a statement to the outlet. His campaign escalated the denial, accusing out-of-state operatives of orchestrating the story as a political hit job timed strategically before the ballot deadline.
Politico's reporting included corroborating details: accounts from a man Racicot confided in, therapist emails, and messages showing she had warned acquaintances about Platner years before his Senate run. Racicot told the outlet she struggled with coming forward, caught between support for Platner's populist anti-oligarchy message and concerns about his personal conduct. She also revealed that she had spoken to the New York Times for a June story about Platner's "unsettling" behavior toward women he dated, but chose not to share the sexual assault allegation at that time because she did not want to be identified as a rape victim.
The accusation piles onto a growing list of troubles for Platner's campaign. Before entering politics, he posted controversial material on social media and received a tattoo linked to Nazi symbolism, which he later covered up. He has said he did not initially understand the tattoo's meaning. The New York Times story in June detailed multiple women's accounts of uncomfortable interactions with him.
In a video message released after Politico's report, Platner acknowledged the political stakes while maintaining his innocence. "We are 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," he said, thanking voters who nominated him as a political newcomer.
The timing of the allegation has created pressure on Maine's Democratic Party to decide Platner's future. State law gives Democrats until 5 p.m. on July 13 to determine whether to replace him. If they choose to remove him as the nominee, the party would have a two-week window ending July 27 to select a replacement candidate. Some prominent Democratic voices, including former DNC chair Donna Brazile, have already called for him to step aside. "Platner needs time to heal, focus on his family and well-being. Enough. Enough," Brazile said.
No police report was filed in connection with Racicot's allegations. Platner's campaign responded by denying the claims and characterizing the story as part of a coordinated smear campaign. "It is not a coincidence that this story comes a week before the ballot deadline, just as the previous false allegations came a week before the primary," the campaign statement read.
Author James Rodriguez: "This is exactly the kind of moment that tests whether a party can separate a candidate's message from his character, and early signs suggest Maine Democrats are running out of patience."
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