Calls across the political world, from veteran-related organizations and otherwise, are mounting for U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner of Maine to drop out of his race against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins following newly reported sexual assault allegations.
Politico reported Monday that a woman named Jenny Racicot, 41, also a Maine resident, shared that Platner was drunk in 2021, entered her home, and proceeded to assault her as part of a non-consensual incident. Racicot was reportedly in an on-and-off relationship with Platner and stopped seeing him after the alleged assault.
“I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” Racicot told Politico. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’”
She added that she felt she had to speak out considering the political stakes, in addition to her own conscience, as she acknowledged that she agrees with his political viewpoints—describing a “huge moral” quandary and, ultimately, wanting the truth to be told.
Platner was interviewed in May by Military.com about his trajectory from a military veteran and middle-class oyster farmer, riding a wave of populism to garner millions of Democratic primary votes for the opportunity to unseat Collins, the longest-serving Republican U.S. senator who has been a mainstay since 1997.
The U.S. Marine Corps veteran and current Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, who despite a plethora of national calls to leave the race has not yet done so, released a statement shortly after Politico’s story was published.
“These allegations are troubling, serious, and false,” Platner said in a video published across social media. “Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue,” he said in a statement.
However, the remarks included mixed messaging in terms of whether the campaign will remain ongoing.
“Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we’re taking the time to reflect on the best path forward,” Platner added.
Efforts by Military.com to reach the Platner campaign Monday and Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Veteran Organizations Call for Platner to Drop Out
Military.com has learned that at least three veterans’ organizations that endorsed Platner as Maine’s next senator have rescinded their endorsements following Monday’s news. One of them is Veterans for Responsible Leadership (VFRL).
“Conduct of this kind, even as alleged, runs against the fiber of our organization and who we represent,” VFRL wrote on X. “Mr. Platner denies the allegation and is entitled to due process; but given the gravity and pattern of concerns surrounding his interactions with women, we believe he can no longer credibly carry this campaign forward. We are calling on him to withdraw from the race before the July 13th deadline.
Scott Peoples, executive director of VFRL, declined to say anything further to Military.com about the situation and allegations, letting the statement speak for itself.
When asked what the path forward is now for Maine and the Democratic Party, Peoples said he and VFRL would like to see Rep. Jared Goldman enter the race. The Maine Democrat and Marine Corps veteran has served Maine’s 2nd congressional district since 2019.
“Veterans For Responsible Leadership is hoping Jared Golden enters the race,” Peoples told Military.com. “We endorsed him in his congressional race in 2024. If he does not enter the race, then we do not have any other endorsement at this time.”
Common Defense described the allegations against Platner as “alarming,” releasing their own statement.
“We take these allegations seriously. Integrity, accountability, and respect are foundational to everything Common Defense stands for, and we hold every candidate we support to that standard without exception,” the statement said. “We are officially rescinding our endorsement effective immediately and are calling for Platner to withdraw from the Senate race. The people of Maine deserve better.”
VoteVets, the largest Democratic veterans’ group in the United States with roughly 1.5 million supporters, also rescinded its endorsement and removed Platner from their preferred candidates lists on their website.
In a post on X, the organization said Platner “must withdraw” and that “sexual violence is unacceptable, regardless of party, and we stand with women and survivors.”
Other names floated as a possible Platner replacement this late in the campaign cycle have included Troy Jackson, Dr. Nirav Shah, Shenna Bellows and Sara Gideon.
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