Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner Faces Pressure to Withdraw After Assault Allegations

Pressure is building on Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner to drop out of the election after a Maine woman accused him of sexually assaulting her — a stunning fall for a once-ascendant candidate whose bid has been rocked by personal scandals for months as Democrats try to capture Republicans' lone congressional seat in New England.

Platner denied allegations that he forced himself on 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot in 2021. The 41-year-old oysterman and military veteran defeated incumbent Democratic Gov. Janet Mills in the June primary after rocketing to national limelight for his gruff demeanor and progressive message. But his embattled candidacy faces near-insurmountable challenges as his earliest and most ardent supporters in the Democratic Party called for him to quit the day after Politico revealed Racicot's allegations.

The race is pivotal to both political parties as Republicans seek to keep control of the Senate and Democrats look to wrest it from them. Defending or defeating five-term incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins is key to each party's plans.

Platner said in a video statement on Monday he is mulling the next steps for his campaign. Pressure to exit the race grew Tuesday after his closest ally, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called for him to drop out.

"I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine," Sanders said in a statement Tuesday. "In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside."

Should Platner drop out before July 13, Democrats can still field another candidate before July 27. That would set off a mad dash among the state's Democrats to find a suitable candidate to take on Collins in a competitive race the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rates "leans" Republican.

Some former candidates in this year's primary contests for governor, the Senate and the House have already expressed interest in replacing Platner on the ballot. Those names include gubernatorial runner-up Nirav Shah, onetime Platner ally Troy Jackson and former Senate candidate Dan Kleban.

Kleban, the founder of a successful brewery, made a quip using his company's motto to seemingly express interest.

"Mainers deserve a Senator who will fight for them against the DC establishment while also doing what's right," he said in an X post.

A source close to Kleban, granted anonymity to share the beer mogul's thinking, told CNBC that Kleban is fielding calls and is "seriously weighing it."

"He never endorsed Graham. He has never spoken with Graham, and you know that will bode well as the replacement is considered," the source said.

Kleban was also reportedly discouraged from running last year by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., an episode the person close to Kleban said could boost him in a potential run.

"Being on the other side of Schumer is a good place to be," the source said.

Schumer on Monday shortly after the latest Platner revelation issued a statement with Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., calling on Platner to withdraw from the race.

Shah, in a statement posted to X, said he's "having conversations with my wife, my team, and Mainers across the state about what comes next and evaluating whether I should enter the Senate race."

Jackson has filed with the Federal Election Commission to explore a run, according to the Bangor Daily News.