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 Politico report released Monday, leading prominent supporters to pull their endorsements and throwing a must-win race for the party into turmoil.
Platner denied the allegation, but said he would be considering 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 Platner entered her home in 2021 while drunk and assaulted her. Racicot said she had been in an on-and-off relationship with Platner, but she cut off contact with him after that night and told him the incident wasn’t consensual. A voicemail left at a number listed for Racicot seeking comment did not receive an immediate response.
Platner’s campaign did not immediately respond to an email and phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment.
“Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false,” Platner said in his video.
Still, the allegation sparked a flight away from a candidate who has long been controversial. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who’d stood by Platner even as the insurgent candidate was hit with prior allegations, said Monday’s was enough. “I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” Khanna said. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”
Edit: holy shit, these comments are insane.
Regardless of what you believe with this, Platner likely cannot win anymore. He has a week to do the right thing and drop out before he's fully locked in. If he actually gives any sort of a shit (and doesn't just want power, like rapists seeking office tend to), he needs to drop out yesterday.
This is the nail in the coffin for his campaign. It's not time to defend him no matter what, because there's still a week where a new candidate can be put into place. Instead of being mad at people not wanting to vote for him, you should start vocally supporting another candidate.
Platner can't win. The accuser has corroborated contemporaneous communications. He's just going to lose.
Finding this out now is a gift - he can drop out by the 13th. Rs would love to have kept this hidden until then. Now he can be replaced by the 27th (I think?)
Jackson is being floated as an alternative, but I'd love to see Heather Cox Richardson drafted
Haha, that would be great, but there is no way in hell HCR has interest in that position.
Yeah for sure, but ambition for office is almost disqualifying. Just a daydream. I think Jackson is the obvious pick, but don't know the method by which he could become the nominee
Anyone from president of the HOA to president of the US. If they want the job, they probably shouldn't be put there. It would be an interesting twist on politics if a person could not want the position, not run at all, but still get elected and be legally mandated to do the job. I mean, it couldn't be worse than the way things are.
HCR has already said she has no interest in running for office, and reiterated it just last week in one of her live chats. She apparently has the idea of public office suggested to her often.
And honestly she'd be wasted* in office: she'd certainly do well in any position, but no one could do in her stead what she is doing now for us.
*Not wasted in the Kash Patel sense, obv
Fully agree, but you just made me think she'd maybe be hilarious on Drunk History