Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner said Monday he is weighing the future of his campaign after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021. Platner denied the allegation but acknowledged a need for reflection, writing on X that he is 'mindful of the political reality it will inflict' and committed to finding 'the best path forward' for defeating Republican Senator Susan Collins.
The accusation, first reported by Politico, comes from a woman who said Platner forced her to have sex with him despite her repeated objections. While Platner called the reporting inaccurate, the political fallout threatens a seat Democrats view as a prime pickup target in a state Collins has held since 1997. Collins has not commented on the allegation.
Some Democratic voices have begun calling for Platner to step aside, according to The Guardian, raising questions about whether party leaders will press for a replacement candidate. At one point in his statement, Platner referred to his campaign in the past tense, writing 'we were united' in the goal of defeating Collins, a shift aides declined to characterize as definitive.
The episode, while early in the cycle, could reshape the race for Maine's open Senate seat. The state has trended Democratic in recent presidential contests, but Collins has proven resilient, and a weakened nominee could dampen party hopes of flipping the seat. No polling on the race immediately followed the allegation.
Maine law allows party committees to replace a nominee who withdraws before a certain date, though no such process has been triggered. Platner's camp said he is 'taking the time' to decide, offering no timeline for a final decision on his candidacy.