Graham Platner, the Democratic Party's Senate candidate in Maine, announced he was suspending his campaign amid sexual assault allegations and other controversies. The decision throws a key race in Democrats' plans to capture the Senate majority into uncertainty.
Platner announced in a video posted on social media on Wednesday that he was suspending his campaign for the 2026 midterm elections. In his statement, he denied the allegations, calling them "completely baseless."
The crisis began with allegations from a former girlfriend that surfaced in the media. The woman alleged that about five years ago, Platner entered his home without permission and sexually assaulted her while under the influence of alcohol. Platner firmly denied the allegations.
It had also emerged that Platner had previously made Reddit posts containing offensive language and had a tattoo resembling Nazi symbols. Additionally, his wife Amy Gertner told campaign officials that in the early years of their marriage, Platner had sent sexually explicit messages to several women. However, Gertner later said in a statement that their marriage was "wonderful."
Following these developments, top Democrats and party-aligned groups withdrew their support for Platner. The Maine Democratic Party leadership called for him to drop out, saying "we stand with women and victims."
Platner's suspension of his campaign has affected a critical race for Democrats. The election for the Senate seat in Maine is crucial to Democrats' goal of winning the Senate majority in November. Republicans currently control the Senate with a 53-47 advantage.
The Democratic Party will now try to find a new candidate to face veteran Republican Senator Susan Collins. Platner had quickly risen as a figure with promises of universal healthcare and support for the working class, but his political career appears to be over for now.
