Topline
Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner announced he is reassessing the direction of his campaign following a report in Politico involving a sexual assault accusation from a former partner. Platner has denied the allegations.
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
In a video statement released on X, Platner described the allegation as “troubling, serious and false.” He noted that while his campaign is “mindful of the political reality it will inflict,” they are currently taking time to determine “the best path forward.”
The accuser, 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot, told Politico that Platner, with whom she had an intermittent relationship approximately five years ago, arrived at her home intoxicated and uninvited, where he subsequently forced himself on her.
Earlier on Monday, various news outlets reported that Platner canceled three events previously scheduled for Sunday and Monday, with some unnamed sources suggesting the cancellations were due to the anticipation of further negative coverage.
This follows a report by The New York Times last month in which several women from Platner’s past described unsettling and volatile behavior, including one account of physical roughness while intoxicated—claims that Platner has denied.
Additionally, Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, previously confirmed reports first published by the Wall Street Journal in May regarding Platner sending sexually explicit messages to multiple women last year. Gertner stated that the couple has since repaired their marriage.
