Democrats Stick The Knife In Graham Platner
Democrats who had previously pledged support for Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner have begun pulling their endorsements of the candidate following a new report of sexual assault from Politico.
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Jenny Racicot, 41, accused Platner of sexual assault. Racicot claimed Platner arrived at her home extremely intoxicated and forced himself upon her in 2021. (RELATED: Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner Accused Of Sexual Assault)
Platner released a statement following the reporting, denying the allegations and calling them “categorically untrue.”
Despite Platner’s denials, prominent Democrats quickly turned on the political newcomer who just over two months earlier had amassed a polling lead significant enough to drive Maine’s sitting governor from the state’s Democratic Senate primary.
“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,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Sen. Kristin Gillibrand of New York said in a statement. “The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”
Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren also joined the pile-on, saying in a statement that “the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside,” while Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wrote on X that Platner “must drop out” and that the party “should continue to stand with all survivors of sexual assault.”
Democratic California Rep. Ro Khanna, who said in June that “evidence of sexual assault” would end his support for Platner, withdrew his endorsement shortly after the new allegations surfaced.
“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement,” the California Democrat wrote in a post on X.
Democratic New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich weighed in, saying, “These are very serious allegations and they should be treated as such,” in a statement to NBC News.
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Meanwhile, Democrat Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego joined his colleagues, writing in a social media post, ” The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious. I am rescinding my endorsement.”
Numerous figures within the Democrat Party’s media infrastructure have also called for Platner’s withdrawal from the Maine Senate race, including Harry Sisson and David Hogg.
In addition, a major figure in the Democrat Party’s political operations, Neera Tanden, posted several times on X — appearing to take a victory lap over the news — writing, “Maybe taking a chance on someone who has never won any primary or any general election is unwise,” and “I do wonder what people knew and when did they know it.”
Tanden was joined by several major Democrat-aligned PACs, including AIPAC Tracker and End Citizens United.
The Maine Democrat Party called for Platner to withdraw from the race.
Platner has faced numerous allegations of misconduct throughout his campaign, including a June report that detailed “intimidating and disturbing” behavior with ex-girlfriends, published by the New York Times. The report featured a statement from Racicot in which she described an incident with Platner “reckless” and “unsettling”; however, she did not reveal her allegation of sexual assault at that time.
The Daily Caller contacted Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for comment. Neither responded in time for publication.
Platner would have to drop out of the race by July 13 in order for Democrats to be able to select a replacement nominee.
This story has been updated to include statements from Gov. Pritzker and Sens. Schumer, Gillibrand, and Warren.
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