Top Democrats pressure Platner to drop Senate bid

By Chris Wade
The Center Square

Top Democrats are breaking their silence on Maine U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner, calling on him to drop out of the race in response to sexual assault allegations.

A former girlfriend accused the ex-Marine of breaking into her home and raping her about five years ago when they were dating. Platner has flatly denied the sexual assault claims, first reported by Politico, but cancelled several campaign events this week and said he is taking time to “reflect” on how to proceed with his challenge to incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

After months of sidestepping the growing controversies around the first time candidate, Democratic leaders are now pressuring him to abandon his Senate campaign.

In a joint statement, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairwoman Kirsten Gillibrand called on Platner to “immediately withdraw” from the race, warning that Senate Democrats “will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”

“The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable,” they wrote. “Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins.”

Platner has been dogged by allegations of excessive drinking, infidelity, scandals involving explicit text messages, past online comments and a covered-up Nazi tattoo. He has refused to step down from the race.

To be sure, Schumer and Gillibrand previously endorsed Platner’s Democratic opponent, Gov. Janet Mills, before she dropped out of the primary race.

Even progressive Democrats like Rep. Ro Khanna of California, who until now has publicly defended Platner, said the latest allegations against him suggest that he is unfit to serve in Congress.

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

Sen. Ruben Gallego Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, called the allegations “troubling and deeply serious” and said he is withdrawing his endorsement.

The Maine Democratic Party also called on Platner to abandon his campaign, saying in a statement that it “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.”

“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” the party said.

Under Maine’s state law, the Democratic Party can replace Platner on the ballot if he withdraws by July 13. The new candidate must be named by July 27. It’s not clear whether Mills will be considered as an alternative candidate.

“If a process for selecting a new nominee becomes necessary, it will be open, transparent, and inclusive,” the party said in a separate statement. “The Maine Democratic Party hopes that we have broad participation of Mainers and Democratic voters in what happens next. In no scenario is there a legal possibility for a nominee to be selected by an individual campaign.”