US Senate nominee Platner halts campaign after assault allegations

A drawstring of high-profile Democrats person withdrawn enactment for Platner pursuing intersexual battle allegation.

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has suspended his run for the 2026 US midterm elections aft a bid of controversies, including an accusation of intersexual battle from a erstwhile girlfriend.

A drawstring of high-profile Democrats had withdrawn their enactment from Platner aft Politico reported the woman’s accusation that helium had forced her to person enactment with him astir ⁠five years ago. Platner announced his determination to halt his run successful a societal media video posted connected Wednesday.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 3‘A rally similar nary other’: Trump unveils 2026 Republican midterm convention
• list 2 of 3Colorado superior predetermination results: Melat Kiros wins – cardinal takeaways
• list 3 of 3Authenticity is what American voters want

Platner has faced a bid of different controversies, including violative Reddit posts helium apologised for and a now-covered tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, had told the run her hubby had sent sexually explicit texts to respective women aboriginal successful their marriage. However, Gertner said successful a video connection that she was “really angry” astir the report, and that the 2 had a “great marriage”.

Platner’s determination to suspend his run has plunged 1 of the astir competitory races successful the 2026 midterm elections into turmoil.

The contention successful Maine is considered important for the Democratic Party, which is aiming to triumph power of the Senate successful the November 3 elections. Republicans presently clasp a 53-47 majority.

The enactment volition present absorption connected selecting a replacement campaigner to instrumentality connected incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins.

End of Platner’s accelerated governmental rise

After Politico reported the intersexual battle allegations connected Monday, CNN followed with a study that Platner’s erstwhile woman accused him of entering her location without support and raping her portion helium was intoxicated. Platner flatly denied the allegations.

Following the interrogation with Politico, apical US Democrats and Democratic-leaning governmental groups pulled their endorsements of Platner.

The Democratic Party enactment successful Maine besides called connected Platner to driblet retired of the race, saying it “stands with women and survivors, and that rule does not crook based connected enactment affiliation”.

The departure whitethorn awesome the extremity of the governmental emergence of Platner, who had tapped into a existent of progressive authorities by promoting a cosmopolitan nationalist healthcare strategy and working-class themes, portion directing disapproval astatine billionaires and concentrated wealth.