Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner in Maine says he is suspending campaign operations or taking time to “reflect” on his candidacy after a woman accused him of sexual assault in a report by POLITICO. The allegation involves an encounter in late 2021, according to the accuser, Jenny Racicot, who says the sexual activity was non-consensual. Platner denies the claims, calling them “troubling, serious, and false” and saying any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false. Several outlets report that Platner’s campaign responded by alleging the timing and presentation of the story are the result of coordinated political efforts and notes it was published shortly before a ballot deadline.
In the days following the POLITICO report, prominent Democrats and progressives publicly called on Platner to step down and withdrew or paused support. NBC News and others describe Platner posting on social media, indicating he is ending or suspending the campaign while considering his next steps. Political reporting also discusses whether and when Platner can legally be replaced on the ballot, with Maine deadlines cited by multiple outlets.
