Progressive US Senator Bernie Sanders has called for Graham Platner to withdraw from the US Senate race in Maine, citing "very serious allegations" of sexual assault. This intervention comes as Platner, the Democratic nominee, faces mounting pressure following multiple reports of sexual misconduct.
The call from Senator Sanders, an influential figure within the Democratic party, was made on Tuesday, hours before a second set of allegations surfaced. Platner has denied the claims, which were first reported by Politico and later by the Washington Post. He has stated he is "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward."
The initial Politico report, published on Monday, detailed allegations from Jenny Racicot, 41, a former partner of Platner. She claims he forced her to have sex five years ago while he was heavily intoxicated, an incident she described to CNN as rape. Later on Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that another ex-girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, alleged Platner removed condoms without her consent during sex on at least six occasions. Fifield also stated she had previously accused Platner of physical altercations in an interview with the New York Times, claims Platner has denied.
The allegations have led to a rapid collapse of institutional support for Platner. US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the party's Senate campaign arm, have both called for his withdrawal and confirmed that the committee would not fund his campaign if he remains on the ballot. Other prominent Democrats, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Ruben Gallego, and Ro Khanna, have also rescinded their endorsements or urged him to step down.
Platner, 41, a Marine Corps combat veteran and oyster farmer, entered the race as an outsider last August and won the primary by a significant margin. His candidacy had boosted Democratic hopes of flipping the US Senate seat, currently held by Republican Susan Collins. For Democrats to put forward an alternative nominee in Maine, Platner would need to officially end his campaign.