Top Democrats press Maine senate candidate to drop out of race over sexual assault allegation

Top Democrats press Maine senate candidate to drop out of race over sexual assault allegationImage source, Getty ImagesBySareen HabeshianPublished6 July 2026Updated 3 minutes agoTop Democrats are calling for Graham Platner, Maine's Democratic candidate for the US Senate, to drop out of the race after a woman he previously dated accused him of sexual assault.The woman detailed the alleged assault in a series of interviews with Politico, which were published on Monday.Platner, a former combat marine and oyster farmer, denied the allegation, calling it "categorically false" but said he was "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward" in the race, which is pivotal to Democrats' chances of gaining control of the Senate. His campaign has been rocked by multiple scandals, including the discovery of a tattoo on his chest resembling a Nazi symbol.Will this scandal-plagued outsider help save or sink the Democrats?Published10 June"Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to and the goal of defeating Susan Collins," Platner said in a video statement on social media shortly after the story was published by Politico.Prominent Democrats in the Senate, along with Maine's Democratic party, have called on Platner to "immediately withdraw".Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement: "The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable."The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee - which provides millions of dollars in support to the party's candidates - "will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot", they added.The list of Democrats calling on him to drop out grew on...