Platner suspends Senate bid after assault allegation roils Maine race
Maine Democrat Graham Platner ended his 2026 Senate campaign after misconduct reports and lost endorsements in a key contest for Senate control.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has suspended his 2026 campaign after reports about a former girlfriend’s sexual assault allegation and other controversies cost him support inside the party. His exit leaves Democrats searching for another challenger in one of the Senate races central to their effort to win back the chamber.
Al Jazeera and Reuters reported that Platner announced the decision Wednesday in a video posted on social media. The move followed Politico’s report that a former girlfriend accused him of forcing her to have sex with him nearly five years ago.
CNN later reported that the woman accused Platner of entering her home without permission and raping her while he was intoxicated. Platner denied the allegations, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.
Senior Democrats and Democratic-aligned political groups withdrew their backing after the Politico report, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported. The Democratic Party leadership in Maine also urged Platner to leave the race, saying it “stands with women and survivors, and that principle does not bend based on party affiliation.”
Platner had already faced scrutiny over other issues. Al Jazeera and Reuters reported that he apologized for offensive Reddit posts and had covered a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, told the campaign that he had sent sexually explicit text messages to several women early in their marriage. Gertner later said in a video message that she was “really angry” about the report and said the couple had a “great marriage,” according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.
A key race for Senate control
Platner’s withdrawal disrupts the Democratic contest in Maine, where the party is trying to defeat Republican Senator Susan Collins. Al Jazeera and Reuters described the race as among the most competitive of the 2026 midterm elections.
Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. Democrats are seeking control in the November 3 elections and will now need to choose a replacement candidate for the Maine race.
Platner had built support on progressive themes, including backing a universal national healthcare system and criticizing billionaires and concentrated wealth, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported. He appeared with US Senator Bernie Sanders at a “Fighting Oligarchy” campaign rally in Portland, Maine, according to a Reuters photo caption cited by Al Jazeera.
His campaign halt marks a sharp reversal for a candidate who had recently become the Democratic nominee in Maine’s Senate race. The party’s next step is to regroup around another contender against Collins in a state that could help decide control of the Senate.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.