Democrats Distance Themselves from Graham Platner Amid Allegations

As Democrats quickly move to distance themselves from Graham Platner, whose campaign has been derailed by serious rape allegations, one progressive lawmaker shared that it was “very easy” not to support him in the first place.

Rep. Madeleine Dean, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, stood out among her peers for being one of the few to publicly caution against Platner as the controversy grew. Most of her party had continued to back him until now.

“I’m relieved, and I believe Maine feels the same,” Dean expressed in an interview, after Platner revealed he would withdraw from the Maine Senate race. He was also expelled from the school on Friday night.

Dean remarked on Platner’s 11-minute video where he flatly denied the allegations and blamed the Democratic establishment for his departure. “I took no responsibility for myself by canceling my campaign,” she noted, reflecting on the situation.

“That’s not the kind of person we want in the Senate,” she added. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican or a Democrat.” Her remarks sparked discussions online and were echoed in various media outlets.

In early June, Dean had characterized the situation surrounding Platner as “disastrous,” claiming he was already “disqualified” before the allegations surfaced. This came a month before Jenny Racicot shared her allegations that Platner had forced her into non-consensual sex while he was intoxicated. Platner has consistently denied these charges.

At the time of Dean’s alarm, Platner was viewed as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. Nonetheless, many in the party remained silent about his past behavior, which included troubling tattoos and offensive online posts.

While a few Democrats have chosen to break ranks with Platner, like Rep. Jake Auchincloss, they’ve faced backlash from constituents worried about jeopardizing the party’s chances against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.

“In my perspective, he was disqualified for at least two reasons. One was his choice to tattoo a Nazi emblem on his body. The second was the credible allegations of abusing women,” Dean explained. “So for me, it was a very easy decision. I was quite clear about my stance.”

Despite the growing outrage, some Democrats defended Platner. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse downplayed the allegations, suggesting they weren’t significant, while Sen. Bernie Sanders advocated for focusing on policy issues over personal scandal.

When asked if she felt Democrats had been slow to speak out against Platner, Dean remained noncommittal. “I have no judgment on that,” she said. “They did things their way; I did it mine.”

She continued, “It wasn’t a tough choice for me. I just called it as I saw it.” Dean firmly stated her refusal to compromise her values for political gain, emphasizing the importance of integrity within the party.

Following the collapse of Platner’s campaign, some Democrats expressed regret. Khanna, a notable ally of Platner, acknowledged the misstep, but maintained that it wouldn’t derail the progressive movement.

Ultimately, Platner is expected to formally withdraw from the race soon, marking the end of a tumultuous chapter for Maine Democrats who are now scrambling to find a suitable successor. The upcoming candidate will face a heavy financial onslaught from Republican counterparts, who have pledged substantial ad spending against them.