The Maine Senate race has been upended after Democratic nominee Graham Platner faces mounting pressure to withdraw from the 2024 ballot following serious sexual assault allegations. Platner, who won the Democratic primary to challenge Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins, has lost every major endorsement — including those from Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren — and the chair of the Maine Democratic Party has publicly called on him to step aside. As of now, Platner has not withdrawn, leaving the party in an urgent scramble with a critical legal deadline looming.
What Happened with Graham Platner in the Maine Senate Race?
Graham Platner emerged from the Democratic primary as the nominee to take on Susan Collins in one of the most closely watched Senate races of 2024. But days after the primary, his campaign collapsed under the weight of sexual assault allegations reported by Politico. The allegations were made by Maine resident Jenny Rasico, who says she and Platner dated casually for roughly two years before an incident in 2021.
Rasico says that on the night in question, Platner texted her saying he would come over, despite her asking him not to. He arrived anyway, letting himself into her unlocked home. She told him repeatedly she was not in the mood, but he persisted. According to Rasico, a scuffle occurred and a sewing table was knocked over. Speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper, she described the moment she recognized the severity of what was happening.
"I looked at him and I remember this very specific look in his eyes. I could smell alcohol and I was like, 'This is different. He is heavily intoxicated.' That blank stare is kind of like a photographic memory that I still have of that night."
When Tapper asked her directly whether Platner raped her, Rasico answered: "By definition, yes." Platner has denied the allegations, calling them "categorically false" in a video posted Monday afternoon, and said he was taking time to reflect on the "best path forward."
What Are the Sexual Assault Allegations Against Platner?
The allegations center on a night in 2021 when Rasico says Platner came to her home uninvited and visibly intoxicated. She told CNN she repeatedly communicated that she did not want to engage with him, but that he was not listening. Fearing for her safety given his level of intoxication and behavior, she says she felt compliance was her safest option.
"A drunk person who's blackout drunk is in my home, has these intentions with me, has already caused this amount of destruction, and is not listening to me," she said. "I basically felt safe just complying."
These allegations, combined with earlier reporting from The New York Times about other concerning behavior, triggered a cascade of withdrawn endorsements and calls for Platner to exit the race. Political analysts note that this wave of opposition was particularly decisive because earlier concerns involved words alone, while these allegations involved direct conduct.
Can Maine Democrats Replace a Senate Candidate After a Primary?
Under Maine state law, the Democratic Party can name a replacement for Platner on the November ballot — but only if he formally withdraws from the race by the coming Monday. This is a hard legal deadline: if Platner does not withdraw, his name stays on the ballot and there is no legal mechanism to remove it. The law provides for replacement only in cases of serious illness or death, or voluntary withdrawal.
If Platner does withdraw in time, the Maine Democratic Party would then have approximately two weeks to select a new nominee. Party leadership has committed to a process that is as inclusive and transparent as possible, with options including caucuses, a convention — either in-person or virtual — or some other delegate-based mechanism. The specific process has not yet been announced, and party officials have stated they will not finalize the plan until Platner officially exits the race.
Complicating matters, Platner's team has reportedly attempted to influence what this replacement process would look like. The executive director of the Maine Democratic Party, Devin Murphy Anderson, confirmed that the party firmly rejected those overtures: "Graham Platner's team has no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate."
Why Does the Maine Senate Seat Matter So Much in 2024?
The Maine Senate seat is not just a state-level contest — it could determine which party controls the entire U.S. Senate. Susan Collins, a Republican, has long cultivated a reputation as a moderate, bipartisan figure. But critics point out that she voted with Donald Trump approximately 95% of the time in recent years, raising serious questions about that brand.
Collins also drew significant controversy for her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. At the time, she stated her belief that Kavanaugh would not vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. He subsequently joined the majority that did exactly that in the 2022 Dobbs decision — a fact that has severely damaged her credibility with many Maine voters.
Maine has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 2000 through the 2024 race, making it fertile ground for a strong Democratic Senate challenger. The stakes extend beyond Maine: national Democratic money that would have flowed into this race may now be redirected to other swing-state Senate contests if Platner remains the nominee, affecting the broader Senate map.
Who Could Replace Platner on the Maine Senate Ballot?
Several names have emerged as potential replacements, most of them drawn from the field that competed in the recent Maine gubernatorial primary. Here are the leading contenders:
Who Is Troy Jackson and Why Is He a Leading Contender?
Troy Jackson is a former logger from Allagash, Maine, who served as Maine Senate President. He ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in the same primary cycle, finishing as a notable contender. Jackson has a working-class background and strong ties to Maine's labor unions, and he was endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders during his gubernatorial bid.
As of the time of reporting, Jackson is the only potential replacement candidate to file formal paperwork exploring a Senate bid, giving him a head start in any replacement process. His campaign messaging emphasized fighting corporate greed and advocating for working people — themes that align well with a general election in Maine.
Who Is Shenna Bellows and What Would Her Candidacy Mean?
Shenna Bellows is Maine's current Secretary of State and another leading name being discussed as a potential replacement. She has a long history of advocacy work in the state, including serving as head of the Maine ACLU and the Maine Holocaust and Human Rights Center. She has been a prominent voice on LGBTQ+ rights and voting rights issues.
Bellows gained national attention when she ruled, as Secretary of State, that Donald Trump was ineligible for the Maine ballot under the 14th Amendment's insurrection clause — a decision later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. That ruling, analysts say, demonstrated her willingness to make difficult, principled decisions under significant political pressure. She also ran in the gubernatorial primary, further establishing her name recognition across the state.
Other Potential Candidates
Other names discussed include Dr. Narav Shaw and Governor Janet Mills, who had previously suspended her own Senate campaign when Platner surged in the primary. Whether any of these figures would enter a compressed two-week selection process remains to be seen.
What Happens If Platner Stays in the Race?
Political science professor Amy Fried of the University of Maine, who writes on Maine politics at her Substack Political Sightlines, was direct about the consequences: "If Platner stayed in the race, I think it would be extremely difficult to beat Susan Collins."
She noted that polling showed Platner's numbers dropped significantly after both the texting allegations and the initial abuse story from The New York Times. Many voters who might not switch to Collins could simply sit out the election — a dangerous outcome in a race this close. With the right candidate, however, Professor Fried believes Collins remains vulnerable and the seat is genuinely winnable for Democrats. The pressure on Platner to withdraw, from nearly every corner of the Maine Democratic establishment, reflects just how much is at stake.
