US Senate nominee Platner halts campaign after assault allegations

Graham Platner, the Democratic Senate candidate from Maine, has suspended his campaign for the 2026 US midterm elections after a series of controversies, including a sexual assault allegation from a former girlfriend. According to a report by Politico, the woman accused Platner of forcing her to have sex with him nearly five years ago. In response, several high-profile Democrats withdrew their support. Platner announced his decision to halt his campaign in a social media video posted on Wednesday.

Platner has faced other controversies, including offensive Reddit posts for which he apologized, and a now-covered tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol. The Wall Street Journal reported that Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, had told the campaign that her husband sent sexually explicit texts to several women early in their marriage. However, Gertner said in a video message that she was "really angry" about the report and that the two had a "great marriage."

After Politico's report, CNN reported that Platner's ex-girlfriend accused him of entering her home without permission and raping her while he was intoxicated. Platner flatly denied the allegations.

Platner's decision has thrown one of the most competitive races in the 2026 midterms into turmoil. The Maine race is considered crucial for the Democratic Party, which aims to win control of the Senate in the November 3 elections. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority. The party will now focus on selecting a replacement candidate to take on incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins.

The suspension may mark the end of Platner's rapid political rise. He had tapped into progressive politics by promoting universal national healthcare and working-class themes while criticizing billionaires and concentrated wealth.