Graham Platner, center, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate for Maine, and Planned Parenthood Federation CEO Alexis McGill Johnson, right, during a campaign event with abortion rights advocates in Portland, Maine, U.S., on Monday, June 22, 2026.
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Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing pressure to drop out of the race after a Maine woman has accused him of sexual harassment — a stunning fall for the one-time candidate whose bid has been dogged by personal scandals for months as Democrats try to hold off Republicans’ only congressional seat in New England.
Plattner 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 Governor Janet Mills in the June primary after making national headlines for his tough demeanor and progressive message. But his controversial candidacy faces almost insurmountable challenges as his earliest and most ardent supporters in the Democratic Party called on him to step down the day after Politico revealed Racicot’s allegations.
This race is important for both political parties as Republicans want to keep control of the Senate and Democrats want to take it away from them. Defending or defeating five-term incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins is key to each party’s plans.
Plattner said in a video statement Monday that he is considering the next steps for his campaign. The pressure to drop out of the race grew on Tuesday when his closest ally, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., asked him to drop out of the race.
“I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine,” Sanders said in a statement Tuesday. “In light of these extremely serious allegations, I have recommended that he step down.”
If Plattner drops out before July 13, Democrats could field another candidate before July 27. Cook Political Report with Amy Walter said the competitive race will lead to a race among the state’s Democrats to find a suitable candidate to take on Collins.
Some former candidates in this year’s primary contests for governor, Senate and House have already expressed interest in replacing Plattner on the ballot. Those names include gubernatorial runner-up Nirav Shah, one-time Plattner aide Troy Jackson and former Senate candidate Dan Kleban.
Shah said in a statement Posted on xSaid he was “conversing with my wife, my team and Mainers across the state about what’s next and evaluating whether I should get involved in the Senate race.”
Jackson has filed with the Federal Election Commission to explore the possibility of running for office, according to bangor daily news.
And Kleban, the founder of a successful brewery, quipped, using his company’s motto to express interest.
“Mainers deserve a senator who will fight for them against the D.C. establishment while also doing what’s right,” he said in a speech. X post.