Topline
Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner said he’s reassessing the future of his campaign after a woman who said she used to date Platner accused him of sexual assault in a Politico article on Monday, allegations he denied.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at his Primary Election event on June 9, 2026 in Blue Hill, Maine. (Photo by CJ Gunther/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Calling the allegation “troubling, serious and false,” in a video statement posted to X shortly after it was made public, Platner said his campaign is “mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.”
The woman, 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot, who dated Platner on-and-off about five years ago, told Politico he came to her home intoxicated and uninvited one night and forced himself on her.
Earlier Monday, multiple outlets reported Platner cancelled three events scheduled for Sunday and Monday, with some citing unnamed sources who said he was anticipating another negative story.
Several women who had relationships with Platner described unsettling and volatile behavior in an article published in The New York Times last month, including one who said he was physically rough with her when intoxicated, allegations Platner denied.
Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, who he married in 2023, also caught him sending sexually explicit messages to multiple other women last year—revelations first made public in May in the Wall Street Journal and confirmed publicly by Gertner, who said the couple had repaired their marriage.
This is a developing story and will be updated.