Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Graham Platner holds up a handmade card given to him by an audience member reading 'We Are your Grahamily And We've Got Your Back!' during a campaign town hall meeting in Portland, Maine, U.S., June 7, 2026. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
(Augusta, Maine) – Graham Platner’s campaign for U.S. Senate in Maine is under growing pressure after a sexual assault allegation shook one of Democrats’ most closely watched 2026 races.
Platner, a progressive candidate backed by parts of the party’s left flank, has denied the allegation and called it false. Even so, senior Democrats and former allies are moving quickly to distance themselves, with pressure building for him to leave the race before the party runs out of time to replace him on the ballot.
Sen. Bernie Sanders has called on Platner to withdraw, while Sen. John Fetterman sharply criticized both Platner and the leaders who had supported him. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani also said Platner should exit the race, adding another prominent progressive voice to the push.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has warned it will not fund the Maine contest if Platner remains the nominee, according to national reporting. That is a major development in a race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, whose seat Democrats have long viewed as one of their best pickup opportunities.
The political clock is now just as important as the controversy itself. Under Maine rules cited in national coverage, Platner would need to step aside by mid-July for Democrats to have a clearer path to select a replacement, turning the next several days into a defining moment for the party.
