Graham Platner’s possible replacement has his own allegations
A potential replacement candidate for scandal-hit Maine Senate candidate Graham platner is being considered amid allegations against him. Political group Progressive International is investigating claims that former state Senator Troy Jackson threw a water bottle at a woman during a caucus meeting, which Jackson denies. Platner,who won the Democratic primary,faces sexual assault allegations from a woman he previously dated,leading many Democrats and the Maine Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) to call for his withdrawal from the race. The DSA initially endorsed Platner but recently backtracked, urging him to drop out. Jackson previously endorsed Platner but changed his stance after the new allegations emerged, condemning sexual violence and emphasizing the need for accountability within politics. The race remains critical for Democrats aiming to flip Maine’s Senate seat, aiming to defeat incumbent susan Collins. The situation highlights ongoing concerns about sexual misconduct and internal party dynamics in Maine politics.
The Maine Democrat floated as a possible replacement for scandal-plagued Senate candidate Graham Platner is accused of previously hitting a woman with a water bottle.
Political organizing group Progressive International said Monday it is investigating claims from “contacts on the ground in Maine” that former state Sen. Troy Jackson threw the bottle at the woman on an unspecified date. Jackson, on the same day, declared himself “the best person to replace” Platner, who won the Democratic primary in June but now faces allegations of sexual assault against a woman he previously dated, in addition to a litany of other scandals that had failed to place his candidacy in serious jeopardy.
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The Democratic Socialists of America‘s Maine chapter endorsed Jackson for governor before he lost his June primary. Maine DSA initially endorsed Platner for the Senate but backtracked on Monday, calling for him to drop out of the race after Politico published the account of the woman who said Platner broke into her home and sexually assaulted her in 2021.
Jackson’s campaign and Maine DSA did not respond to the Washington Examiner‘s requests for comment.
“We began asking our contacts on the ground in Maine about Troy Jackson earlier today after seeing many suggestions that he should replace Graham Platner against [Republican incumbent] Susan Collins,” Progressive Victory said in an X post. “In our discussions we have received troubling information about not only Jackson’s behavior, but the behavior of many prominent Maine Democrats toward women more broadly. Both as a result of the credibility of the sources and in the interest of not seeing our movement make the same mistake twice, we are choosing to share some of this now.”
“As Maine Senate President in a state senate caucus meeting several years ago, Troy Jackson in a heated disagreement struck a female colleague with a bottle he threw at her,” the organization alleged. “There are many witnesses, and it appears this is a widespread open secret within Maine politics and not an isolated incident. This information is still developing and we will provide updates in a thread in the comments of this post as we receive it.”
Progressive Victory clarified that “people within Jackson’s camp are denying the claim,” but “it is not a credible refutation on its own,” and the group will keep investigating.
Jackson and Platner previously campaigned alongside each other at events before and after their respective primaries. However, Jackson joined other Democratic politicians calling for Platner to step down in a statement on Monday after the sexual assault allegation emerged. Platner denied the accusation and said he would “reflect on the best path forward.”
The past alliance with Platner could become another political liability for Jackson if he runs to replace Platner. Such a controversy would further complicate a race that is key to Democrats’ efforts to take a Senate majority. Democrats hope Collins will be vulnerable to defeat and have viewed Maine as a primary pick-up opportunity, particularly given the generational contrast they tried to draw between Platner and the 73-year-old incumbent.
Platner has also publicly supported Jackson.
“Troy has been a voice for the working class in Maine for years. A voice for labor unions. A voice for real working class power,” Platner said in a March video praising Jackson.
“That’s why it’s an absolute honor to be endorsed. Thank you, Troy,” Platner said at the time.
“With you in Washington and me in the Blaine House, working Mainers are going to win,” Jackson said about Platner in April.
Jackson changed his stance after the latest allegation against Platner.
“There is no place in our politics for sexual violence. Not in our party, not in any party,” Jackson said Monday.
“This is not what we stand for,” Jackson added. “Not as Democrats, not as Mainers, not as human beings. For too long, women who survive sexual violence have been told to stay quiet, to protect the men who hurt them, to think about the campaign, the party, the cause. We cannot ask women to trust us with their futures while looking the other way when one of our own hurts them. That ends here.”
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