Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner Suspends Campaign Amid Scandals

Democrat Graham Platner has suspended his campaign for US Senate in Maine, following a series of scandals that included a woman accusing him of sexual assault.

In the days since the accusation was made, Democrats have called on him to drop out of the race considered pivotal to their chances of gaining control of the US Senate.

In a video posted to social media, Platner said his decision was not an admission of guilt but due to Democrats' threats to cut off support for his campaign. He called the assault allegation "false".

Platner said the process to select his replacement in the race against five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins should be "transparent and democratic".

"We are suspending campaign operations," he said in an 11-minute video posted to X, calling the decision "incredibly difficult" and one he and his wife have struggled with for several days.

Under state law, Platner had to drop out by 13 July for a replacement name to be put on the ballot.

Platner, an oyster farmer and military veteran, rocketed to the top of the Democratic field with a message of plain-spoken populism.

He championed progressive policies like universal health care and affordable housing, and won over many frustrated Democratic voters with his critique of the party's establishment.

Endorsements from two liberal leaders, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, bolstered his candidacy. His momentum was so strong that his opponent for the nomination, Maine Governor Janet Mills, suspended her campaign.

By Monday night, Warren and other top Democrats called for him to withdraw and three of his strongest supporters in Congress - Representatives Ro Khanna and Senators Ruben Gallego and Martin Heinrich - had rescinded their endorsements.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee , which provides millions of dollars in support to the party's candidates, and the Maine Democratic party had both ended their backing, too.

The race is one of several pivotal to Democrats eyeing a longshot bid to flip control of the Senate in November's congressional elections, commonly called the midterms. No Republican has carried Maine in a presidential election since 1988, which they believed would give a Democratic nominee a chance at victory over Collins.

While Platner's non-political background elevated him in a climate unfriendly to establishment candidates, several scandals emerged that rocked his campaign.

Last October, US media reported he had a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which he later said he covered up. He said he got the tattoo in Croatia with his fellow Marines in 2007 while drinking.

Meanwhile, old Reddit posts showed Platner saying victims of sexual assault should "take some responsibility for themselves" and not get so intoxicated. After the posts were unearthed, Platner asked voters for forgiveness.

In June, the New York Times reported that Platner had exchanged sexual messages with other women while married, and his wife had warned his campaign of the potential scandal. He acknowledged the report was true.

The Times followed with another report featuring the accounts of three former girlfriends who accused him of erratic and angry behaviour.

Jenny Racicot, 41, then spoke to Politico, and later CNN. She told them she was one of the women interviewed by the Times but did not want to go public with her specific claims because she did not want to be known as a rape victim.

In a video Monday, Platner acknowledged the "political reality" of the latest accusations, and said his campaign was "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward".

Platner was the second major Democratic candidate to drop out of an election this year due to sexual assault allegations. In April, Congressman Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race for California governor and resigned from the House of Representatives after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. Swalwell denied the allegations.