Accused rapist Graham Platner’s political career came crashing down Wednesday as the embattled Democrat finally suspended his Maine Senate campaign—while insisting everyone from the corporate media to his own party was to blame but himself.
The embattled Democrat announced he was suspending his campaign in an 11-minute video, arguing that stepping aside was the only way for the political movement behind his candidacy to survive.
“We believe that for the movement to continue, it can’t be me. And for that reason we are suspending campaign operations,” Platner said.
The stunning collapse comes just days after former girlfriend Jenny Racicot publicly accused Platner of raping her inside her Maine home in 2021 after allegedly showing up intoxicated and ignoring her repeated pleas to stop. Platner has repeatedly denied the allegation, calling it false.
Even as he exited the race, Platner refused to accept responsibility, instead portraying himself as the target of a coordinated political takedown.
He accused “large forces,” “corporate media” and the “political establishment” of orchestrating his downfall, arguing Democratic leaders seized on the allegation to destroy his campaign.
“They used this as an excuse to take away all of the things that we need to run a campaign,” Platner claimed.
My name might be on the ballot right now, but that ballot line belongs to the people of Maine. pic.twitter.com/RKVyLU76tm
— Graham Platner for Senate (@grahamformaine) July 9, 2026
His withdrawal came after a wave of Democratic leaders abandoned him, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, as calls mounted for the nominee to step aside following Racicot’s allegations.
Moments before Platner released his announcement, life appeared to carry on inside his family’s tavern, where his mother, Leslie Harlow, continued serving customers while friends stopped by to embrace her. It was not immediately clear whether those gathered already knew the campaign was about to end.
Hannity’s Highlights
Graham Platner suspended his Maine Senate campaign after a rape allegation triggered a mass exodus of Democratic support — the party moved swiftly to distance itself once the accusation became public.
Platner denied the accusation and blamed the media, the political establishment, and outside forces for ending his bid — stopping short of addressing the specific allegation directly.
Chuck Schumer and other Democratic leaders pulled their support after former girlfriend Jenny Racicot alleged Platner raped her in 2021 — Platner has repeatedly denied the claim.
The exit before the July 13 deadline gives Maine Democrats a clean path to a replacement candidate — keeping the closely watched Senate seat in play for the party.
Platner faced a rapidly approaching July 13 deadline to leave the race if Democrats wanted an uncomplicated path to replacing him on the ballot as the party fights to hold control of the Senate.
More over at The New York Post:
Graham Platner drops out of Maine Senate race in light of rape accusations https://t.co/Ipbv5DjHnI pic.twitter.com/2hX9sRLlts
— New York Post (@nypost) July 9, 2026
