Democrat Graham Platner suspends campaign for key US Senate race after assault allegation

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 online, Platner said his decision was not an admission of guilt but due to Democrats' threats to cut off campaign support. He called the assault allegation "false".

He said he would officially file to withdraw from the race once he's assured his replacement in the race against Republican Susan Collins is selected in a "transparent and democratic" way.

"We're suspending campaign operations," he said in an 11-minute video posted to X, adding that he would file his paperwork to withdraw only after he was assured the process to replace him would be "open and democratic moving forward".

Platner added that he is not "trying to dictate to anyone who it should be or how we get there".

"But I will say this: it needs to be open, transparent, and democratic. It needs to be reflecting the will and the values of the people that built this movement," he said.

Platner's disastrous candidacy exposes rifts that could dampen Democrats' Senate hopes

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

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.

Maine is considered a must-win state for Democrats to take the majority in the Senate. But it's an uphill battle. The party must flip Collins' seat, hold on to all their existing seats and gain three more in the November midterm election.

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.

The assault allegation was made public on Monday. By that 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.

What are the accusations?

Warning - this story contains distressing content

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 (NYT) 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 NYT followed with another report featuring the accounts of three former girlfriends who accused him of erratic and angry behaviour.

But the accusation included in a story on Monday in Politico led to the almost instant downfall of his campaign.

Jenny Racicot, 41, alleged in a series of interviews that after an on-and-off relationship with Platner for more than two years, he entered her home in Maine uninvited and sexually assaulted her. She said Platner allegedly appeared very intoxicated.

Racicot said she cut off contact with Platner after telling him the encounter was not consensual.

Jenny Racicot, 41, said 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 the video on Wednesday, Platner called the allegation "false" and said it was "the worst thing that a person could do, and it was not remotely true".