Pressure Mounts on Graham Platner to Drop Out of Race As Top Democrats Pull Endorsements

Graham Platner’s Senate campaign has already been plagued by one controversy after another, from his Nazi tattoo to inappropriate online behavior.

But, the latest scandal may prove to be the final nail in the coffin for his political ambitions.

On Monday, Platner was hit with a serious rape accusation from one of his ex-girlfriends.

Politico was the first to report on her allegations, and she later gave an exclusive interview to CNN’s Jake Tapper.

You can watch that here:

In an exclusive interview with CNN's Jake Tapper on Monday Jenny Racicot said that Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, entered her home without permission and raped her when they were in a casual dating relationship. Racicot said the incident happened… pic.twitter.com/Gf2mWtDVBT

— CNN (@CNN) July 6, 2026

In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday Jenny Racicot said that Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, entered her home without permission and raped her when they were in a casual dating relationship. Racicot said the incident happened five years ago while Platner was heavily intoxicated. Platner and his campaign denied the allegations, saying, “These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue.”

While Graham Platner is denying this woman’s disturbing claims, his political career may be over, regardless.

Several top Democrats have withdrawn their endorsements of his Senate campaign, as calls grow for him to drop out.

Key funding has also been pulled from his campaign.

Politico reported on the fallout from this new sexual assault allegation:

Democratic leaders in Maine and Washington, along with a growing pack of Platner’s close supporters, abandoned his Senate campaign on Monday after POLITICO reported that a woman who dated him said he forced her to have sex with him. Platner called the allegation false.

Just hours after the story published, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Platner to “immediately withdraw” as the Democratic nominee in the Maine Senate race. The battleground contest is crucial for Democrats’ chances of winning the Senate in November.

Schumer was joined in that statement by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which said last week it was in the process of opening a joint fundraising committee with Platner. On Monday the committee said it would no longer invest in the race if he stays on the ballot.

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Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, which had been fundraising with Platner, said Monday that it was “time for him to end his campaign.” Senate Majority PAC, the largest super PAC backing Senate Democrats, said it is “redirecting resources away from the Maine Senate race” following the latest allegations.

That meant the three biggest Democratic groups trying to flip the Senate — Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, their biggest super PAC, and the DNC itself — had all dropped their nominee in a must-win race.

A flood of Democratic senators joined Schumer and Gillibrand in condemning Platner. Some of his biggest backers — Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) — called on him to exit the race, as did Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). Another staunch supporter and potential 2028 presidential hopeful, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, withdrew his endorsement. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who had expressed support for Platner last month, said Monday he “cannot support his candidacy.”

Our Revolution, the progressive organization formed to continue the goals of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) 2016 presidential campaign, said it is withdrawing its endorsement and calling on Platner to drop out. Sanders himself has yet to comment on the news.

The money that would be crucial to Democrats’ hopes of flipping the seat also immediately dried up. Key outside groups organizing on his behalf, including VoteVets, which elevates former veterans as Democratic candidates, and the progressive good-governance group End Citizens United, rescinded their endorsements Monday.

Here are just a few posts from various Senate and Congressional Democrats calling for Platner to call it quits:

I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) July 6, 2026

Enough is enough. graham platner needs to step aside.

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) July 6, 2026

The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious.

I am rescinding my endorsement.

— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) July 6, 2026

The Maine Democratic Party also released a statement demanding that Platner withdraw himself from the Senate race.

Read it here:

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Statement from Maine Democratic Party Leadership on Allegations Against Graham Platner pic.twitter.com/dzPDFOck9X

— Maine Democrats (@MaineDems) July 6, 2026

Full text:

Statement from Maine Democratic Party Leadership on Allegations Against Graham Platner

Augusta, Maine — “Maine Democratic Party leadership takes seriously our responsibility to hold every candidate who seeks to represent our state to the highest standard.

Over the past several weeks, multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner. Today’s statements take those allegations even further.Maine Democratic Party leadership is calling on Graham Platner to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.

The Maine Democratic Party leadership stands with women and survivors, and that principle does not bend based on party affiliation. We respect the women who made the hard decision to come forward. Speaking up is often costly.\

We are entrusted with deciding who represents our values and who carries our banner. That responsibility requires judgment, leadership, and a willingness to act when circumstances demand it.

This Senate race comes at a pivotal moment in the struggle against a government, supported by Senator 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.”

Charlie Dingman, Chair
Imke Schessler, Vice Chair
Devon Murphy-Anderson, Executive Director

Graham Platner is cooked, folks.

But frankly, it’s surprising he even made it this far…

After all, what were Democrats expecting when they backed a Nazi candidate, in the first place?

This really is such an unreal situation.

CNN provided further coverage in this clip:

🚨 JUST IN: The Democrat Party just PULLED FUNDING from Graham Platner and told him to DROP OUT of the US Senate race in Maine, after major r*pe allegations

Wow! The memo went out, PLATNER IS DONE.

Leftist voters chose Platner, they should have to deal with him and lose this… pic.twitter.com/F8AwciCkPX

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 6, 2026