WASHINGTON — Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner of Maine suspended his campaign Wednesday after a string of controversies, including an accusation of sexual assault, that plunged one of the most competitive races in the 2026 midterm elections into turmoil.
The former U.S. Marine and oysterman's suspension of his campaign, in a video posted on social media, is likely to complicate Democrats' efforts to win control of the Senate in the Nov. 3 elections. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority.
FILE PHOTO: Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Graham Platner speaks at a campaign town hall meeting in Portland, Maine, U.S., June 7, 2026. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
The race in Maine, considered one of the Democrats' best pickup opportunities, will now focus on how the Democrats go about choosing a replacement candidate to take on incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Many Democrats already questioned Platner's fitness for office before Politico reported Monday that a woman accused him of forcing her to have sex with him almost five years ago. CNN followed with a report that the woman accused him of entering her home without permission and raping her while he was intoxicated. Platner flatly denied the allegations.
People are also reading…
On Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that a former girlfriend of Platner's said he repeatedly removed condoms during sex without her consent, an allegation that Platner's campaign called "categorically false and politically motivated."
Democratic leaders and Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, called on Platner to withdraw from the race. Prominent members of Congress rescinded their endorsements of him and leaders of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said they would withhold funding from the race if Platner remained on the ballot.
The departure may signal the end of Platner's rapid political rise, as he tapped into a current of progressive politics by promoting a universal national healthcare system and working-class themes while directing criticism at billionaires and concentrated wealth.
Graham Platner remains on the ballot in Maine as Sunday's withdrawal deadline nears, but top Democrats are already looking for a replacement.
Platner faced a series of other controversies, including offensive Reddit posts he apologized for and a now-covered tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol. The Wall Street Journal reported that Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, told the campaign her husband sent sexually explicit texts to several women early in their marriage. In a video message, Gertner said the two had a "great marriage."
Platner acknowledged poor behavior in the past and asked for forgiveness, saying he struggled with alcohol abuse and mental health issues after military deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
