Democrats urge Graham Platner to quit Maine race

July 7, 2026

2–3 minutes

Summary

Democrats moved to cut ties with Graham Platner after a Maine woman accused him of rape, pressuring him to leave the Senate race.

Why this matters

The dispute reshaped a closely watched Senate race in Maine and could affect Democrats’ effort to compete for Senate control. A July 13 withdrawal deadline will determine whether the party can replace its nominee on the ballot.

Democrats across the party on Monday urged Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to suspend his campaign after Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, accused him of rape in interviews with Politico and CNN.

Racicot alleged that nearly five years ago, Platner entered her home uninvited while intoxicated and forced himself on her despite repeated attempts to stop him. She told Politico she ended contact with Platner after he forced her to have unprotected sex, saying, “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’” She told CNN the encounter was the “dictionary definition” of rape.

Platner denied Racicot’s account and said he was “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., withdrew her endorsement and said, “There can be no tolerance for sexual assault. With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race.”

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., also withdrew his endorsement and called on Platner to leave the race. Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., also pulled their support, though Gallego did not call on Platner to suspend his campaign.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said Platner should “immediately” suspend his campaign so the party could choose a new nominee. They said the committee would not invest in the race if he remained on the ballot. Senate Majority PAC also said it would shift resources away from Maine while Platner stayed in the race.

Under Maine law, Platner could be replaced on the ballot if he withdrew by 5 p.m. July 13, and the state party could name a replacement by July 27.

Other Democrats calling on Platner to withdraw included Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, Hannah Pingree, and Maine Democrats Nirav Shah and Troy Jackson, both viewed as possible replacements.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, called the rape allegation “appalling” but did not say whether Platner should stay in the race. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., had not commented as of late Monday.

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The case involves the Veterans Appeals Control and Locator System (VACOLS), which tracked appeals under the VA’s legacy system for claims initially decided before Feb. 19, 2019. Under that process, veterans had to file a substantive appeal after receiving a statement of the case. If a VA employee did not properly record that filing in VACOLS, the system could automatically close the appeal without notifying the claimant.

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OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a research-focused nonprofit and created a for-profit arm four years later to help fund the costs of developing AI systems.
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The White House said Tuesday that the first “Freedom Fuel” gas station opened in Philadelphia and was selling gasoline for $3.47 a gallon, below the national average.

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“President Trump is leading the charge to lower gas prices this summer — putting more money in your pocket,” the White House said.

A White House spokesperson told CBS News on Wednesday that the Freedom Fuel Network is a private company that owns 25 gas stations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

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North Carolina

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North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein on Wednesday vetoed House Bill 437, which would have allowed municipalities to regulate homeless encampments by moving people to designated spaces. Stein called the measure “poorly constructed” and said it would make it harder for homeless people to regain stability.

The bill would have banned “unauthorized sleeping” in public spaces and allowed local governments to direct homeless people to designated areas not near homes, businesses, or schools. Those governments would have had to provide security, toilets, and water.

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