Democratic Candidate Faces Fresh Scrutiny After Ex-Girlfriend’s Claims Surface, Prompting Schedule Clear-Out and Intense Political Questions

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has indefinitely postponed multiple campaign events and is reflecting on next steps after serious new allegations from a former girlfriend were published.

The former girlfriend, Jenny Racicot, told Politico that Platner forced non-consensual Sєxual activity with her in 2021 while heavily intoxicated. Platner immediately rejected the claims, describing them as “troubling, serious and false.”

Hours before the Politico article appeared, the Platner campaign had already cleared its schedule. Town halls planned for Augusta on Sunday and Gorham on Monday were postponed indefinitely, and an event listing in Sanford was removed. Local Democrats in Gorham stated Monday morning that the candidate was “not feeling well.”

Under Maine election rules, Democrats have until July 13 to replace Platner on the ballot for the 2026 Senate race if they choose to do so.

A Pattern of Scrutiny

The latest report arrives on the heels of earlier coverage. Last month, The New York Times published a story examining accounts from six of Platner’s former girlfriends. Three of them alleged he expressed hostility toward women, with one describing physical intimidation during an argument. Racicot was interviewed for that earlier piece and described Platner arriving at her home intoxicated in 2021, though she did not raise an allegation of non-consensual Sєx at that time.

Racicot told Politico she decided to speak more fully now because she felt her perspective had been overshadowed by focus on another former partner whose political affiliations complicated the public discussion. She said she had wrestled with a moral conflict between supporting Platner’s political positions and her view of him as a person. She expressed hope that voters would gain a fuller picture of his character.

Platner and Racicot had dated on and off for roughly two years between 2019 and 2021 after meeting through a dating app. She later cut off contact. Platner has maintained that any accusation of non-consensual behavior is “categorically untrue.”

In a subsequent video statement, he said that while he disputes the accuracy of the reporting, he is mindful of the political reality it creates. He stated that the campaign is taking 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.”

Additional Controversies

Platner has faced other questions in recent months. Reports have detailed allegations that he engaged in Sєxting with multiple women while married — claims he and his campaign have acknowledged. He also maintained an active account on a private messaging app known for casual encounters, and past online comments and a controversial tattoo have drawn criticism. The tattoo, which some identified as resembling a notorious historical symbol, was later replaced.

A recent Times/Portland Press Herald/Siena College survey showed Platner narrowly leading incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, 49 percent to 47 percent, with a small share of voters undecided. However, the same poll found significantly lower marks for Platner on measures of character and moral values compared with Collins.

Political Stakes and Reactions

Despite the accumulating controversies, Platner has retained high-profile support. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer have both endorsed him, citing alignment on policy priorities such as health care expansion and higher taxes on the wealthy. Sanders told CBS News in June that he would do everything possible to help Platner win, noting that “there are people in the United States Senate who are not saints.”

The Platner campaign has framed the timing of the latest story as suspicious, noting it appeared shortly before a key ballot ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, similar to earlier reports that surfaced before the primary. In a statement, the campaign said Platner began the race to fight for a Maine where people are treated with dignity and Mainers are put first, and that “no amount of desperate smears will stop this movement.”

As of now, Platner has stepped back from public events while weighing how to proceed. The developments leave Maine Democrats confronting difficult questions about their nominee in one of the most closely watched Senate contests of the cycle — a race that could help determine control of the chamber.

The coming days will reveal whether Platner continues as the Democratic standard-bearer or whether party leaders explore other options before the replacement ᴅᴇᴀᴅline. For now, the candidate who once positioned himself as a bold progressive challenger is focused on ᴀssessing the path forward amid the most serious personal allegations of his campaign.