Graham Platner Facing Voter Concerns as New Sexual Assault Allegation Lands

Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner is confronting fresh political challenges after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021, a claim he has denied, as new polling suggests voters have little tolerance for additional controversies involving the candidate.

The new allegation was reported by Politico, which interviewed Maine resident Jenny Racicot. Racicot alleged that Platner entered her home while intoxicated in late 2021 and forced her to have sex despite her repeated objections. She told the outlet that she had previously been involved in an on-and-off relationship with Platner and that the encounter was not consensual.

Platner rejected the allegation in a video statement posted to X, calling it “troubling, serious, and false” and saying that “any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue.”

The controversy lands at a critical moment for Democrats, who view Maine as one of their best opportunities to flip a Republican-held Senate seat. Platner, a Marine veteran and oyster farmer, won last month’s Democratic primary and has remained competitive against six-term Republican Senator Susan Collins in public polling.

But with the general election campaign intensifying, the latest allegation against the progressive candidate threatens to refocus attention on Platner’s personal conduct rather than the issues at the center of the race.

The new allegations come as a key deadline approaches under Maine election law. State statute allows a political party to replace a general-election nominee who withdraws after a primary, but only if the withdrawal occurs by 5 p.m. on the second Monday in July. In 2026, that deadline falls on July 13. If Platner were to step aside before then, Maine Democrats would retain the ability to select a replacement nominee for the November ballot.

While rejecting the allegation, Platner acknowledged the political fallout it could create and said he was weighing the future of his campaign. He said he and his team were “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” for Maine, his supporters and the broader effort to defeat Republican Senator Susan Collins.

Newsweek has reached out to the Platner campaign via email on Monday afternoon for comment on the Politico report.

Graham Platner Faces Sexual Assault Allegation: What to Know

The Politico report marks the most serious accusation to emerge against Platner during his Senate campaign. The Democratic nominee has already faced scrutiny over reports involving offensive online comments, sexually explicit messages and a tattoo that critics said resembled a Nazi symbol. Platner has apologized for some aspects of his past conduct while denying allegations that he abused women.

The allegations also arrive as questions mount about Platner’s political standing. An exclusive Wedgewood Polls survey conducted before the latest report found that 75 percent of voters believed Platner should drop out of the race if another negative story about his personal life surfaced. Just 20 percent said he should remain on the ballot. The findings suggested many voters who had remained supportive despite earlier controversies could reconsider their backing if new allegations emerged.

According to Politico, Racicot said she did not previously speak publicly about the alleged assault because she did not want to be known as a rape victim. She later decided to come forward because she wanted voters to have what she described as a fuller understanding of Platner’s character. Politico reported reviewing emails between Racicot and her therapist, as well as messages she exchanged with others in the years following the alleged incident.

Platner has pushed back forcefully, reiterating his denial and accusing political opponents of attempting to derail his candidacy. He said the allegations were being promoted by establishment figures seeking to force him out of the race ahead of a key ballot deadline.

Graham Platner Responds

In a statement following the allegation, Platner forcefully denied the claim, calling it a “troubling, serious and false” accusation and insisting that “any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false.”

Platner also thanked supporters who backed his insurgent campaign, saying Mainers had welcomed him into their communities and embraced a movement focused on putting “the interests of people over corporations.” He pointed to what he described as the largest volunteer operation in Maine political history and argued that supporters from across the ideological spectrum had united around political change and unseating Collins.

The Democratic nominee highlighted his primary victory, noting that a record 154,058 voters participated in the June contest. He said those voters had rejected “a broken politics beholden to Washington and the donor class” and instead voted for “change” and to “take back our Senate seat.”

“Throughout it all, you never turned your back on me, and I will not turn my back on you now,” Platner said, adding that he would use “every tool at our disposal” to achieve the campaign’s goals.

This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.

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