Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner Faces Rape Allegation, Loses Endorsements

A woman who previously dated Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop, according to a report published by US news site Politico on Monday, leading prominent supporters to pull their endorsements and throwing a must-win race for the party into turmoil.

Mr Platner denied the allegation but has cancelled a handful of previously planned town hall events, and said he was considering the next steps for his campaign.

"Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we're taking the time to reflect on the best path forward," he said in a video released on social media.

Jenny Racicot, who lives in Maine, told Politico that Mr Platner entered her home in 2021 while drunk and assaulted her.

Ms Racicot said she had been in an on-and-off relationship with Mr Platner at the time, but she cut off contact with him after that night and told him the incident was not consensual.

A voicemail left at a number listed for Mr Racicot did not receive an immediate response, while Mr Platner's campaign also did not immediately respond to an email and phone message.

"Any accusation of non-consensual behaviour is categorically false," Mr Platner said in his video.

Still, the allegation sparked a flight of endorsements away from a candidate who has long been controversial.

Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who had stood by Mr Platner even as the insurgent candidate was hit with prior allegations, said Monday's allegations were enough to change his stance.

"I've been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line," Mr Khanna said.

Arizona senator Ruben Gallego also announced he was pulling his endorsement, as did the Democratic-leaning political group End Citizens United.

Hasan Piker, a leftist commentator and streamer who has been one of Mr Platner's strongest backers, also seemed to reverse his position on Monday following the Politico report.

"If new evidence presents itself, I'm going to change my perspective — it's that simple," Piker said during a live stream on Twitch, adding: "This is a clear-cut instance of verifiable sexual assault allegations. It's completely irredeemable."

Top leaders inside Maine's Democratic Party also called on Mr Platner to withdraw on Monday.

"Over the past several weeks, multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner. Today's statements take those allegations even further," party chair Charlie Dingman, vice-chair Imke Schessler, and executive director Devon Murphy-Anderson said in a joint statement.

"This Senate race comes at a pivotal moment in the struggle against a government, supported by [Republican] Senator [Susan] Collins, that serves the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of ordinary Maine people. It is essential that we refocus this campaign on that struggle."

Winnable race thrown into chaos

A first-time candidate backed by the party's left wing, Mr Platner commandingly won Maine's Democratic primary in April, even as his controversial history left some centrist Democrats openly despairing his chances of winning the general election.

Maine's Democrats have long sought to oust Republican senator Susan Collins, who has held on to her seat despite representing a state that reliably votes for the other party at the presidential level.

After Senator Collins's commanding 2020 win, several Maine Democrats passed on the opportunity to challenge her this time and instead looked at other offices. That left the state's 77-year-old governor, Janet Mills, as the Democratic establishment's best hope.

Mr Platner rode into the political void to oppose Ms Mills, pitching himself as a blue-collar oysterman and Marine veteran who could reach disaffected voters who had supported President Donald Trump.

But as controversies began to cloud his campaign — including revelations he had a chest tattoo widely recognised as a Nazi symbol, and a history of controversial statements on social media — some Democrats steadfastly refused to support him, including Ms Mills even after she dropped out of the primary.

Chatter had already begun to circulate about other possible replacements, including former state senator and logger Troy Jackson, and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, after reports emerged that Mr Platner had sexted with other women shortly after getting married.

"I've known this has been coming," said Marie Follayttar, a Democrat and community organiser in Maine.

Maine is considered a must-win Senate race for the Democrats, whose hopes of taking control of the Senate rest on winning a handful of seats from Republicans and losing none of their own.

State law allows Mr Platner to be replaced as the Democrats's candidate on the ballot if he withdraws by July 13.

Any replacement candidate must be named by July 27.