Democrats Urge Graham Platner to Withdraw from Maine Senate Race

Pressure is mounting on Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the Maine Senate, to step aside following serious sexual assault allegations reported by Politico. Democratic leaders, including Melissa De Rosa, have highlighted Platner’s problematic past, which features, among other things, Nazi tattoos and inappropriate social media posts. De Rosa criticized the Democratic establishment for not properly vetting him. Tudor Dixon suggested that the timing of these allegations might be a politically motivated move.

Platner has a history of calling out the former Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter on Reddit, accusing him of infidelity. In messages dating back to 2018 and 2019, Platner claimed that Hunter confided in him about cheating on his wife, describing him as a “real piece of shit.” Ironically, Platner admitted during his campaign that he had also sent sexually explicit messages to a woman outside of his marriage early on.

Supposedly, Platner exchanged these messages with several women, although he downplayed the number, claiming it was limited to six. His wife stated that this information was shared by a former friend who had betrayed their trust, making it a deeply painful experience for her.

Back in 2019, Platner expressed disdain for Hunter’s alleged behavior, labeling him “absolutely awful” and criticizing his drinking habits, even though other claims suggest Platner struggled with similar issues.

Platner now faces serious allegations of rape made by another former girlfriend, which he denies. With leading Democrats retracting their support, calls for him to withdraw from the race have intensified. Democrats have until July 13 to find a replacement for Platner, a point he seems to be exploiting in discussions around his successor. Currently, Platner’s campaign has not issued any comments regarding these developments.