{"id":2625848,"date":"2026-07-06T20:58:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T00:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-democrats-urge-platner-to-exit-race-after-sexual-assault-allegations\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T20:58:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T00:58:24","slug":"top-democrats-urge-platner-to-exit-race-after-sexual-assault-allegations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-democrats-urge-platner-to-exit-race-after-sexual-assault-allegations\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Democrats urge Platner to exit race after sexual assault allegations"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftop-democrats-urge-platner-to-exit-race-after-sexual-assault-allegations%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2625848&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democratic leaders are urging Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/free-beacon-staff-to-editors-arm-the-nathan-robinson-regime-to-prevent-communist-takeover-of-current-affairs\/\" title=\"Free Beacon Staff to Editors: Arm the Nathan Robinson Regime To Prevent Communist Takeover of \u2018Current Affairs\u2019\">left-wing populist<\/a>, to withdraw from the race against Republican Susan Collins amid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-one-in-six-biden-voters-would-have-changed-their-vote-if-they-had-known-about-scandals-suppressed-by-media\/\" title=\"Poll: One In Six Biden Voters Would Have Changed Their Vote If They Had Known About Scandals Suppressed By Media\">sexual assault allegations<\/a>. These allegations, made by a woman who previously dated Platner, emerged after Politico reported her accusations that he sexually assaulted her while intoxicated five years ago. Platner denies the claims and is taking time to reflect. <\/p>\n<p>prominent Democrats,including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand,Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer,and Elizabeth Warren,have called for his withdrawal,arguing he is unfit to continue. The Senate Majority PAC, which invested nearly $25 million in support of platner, announced it would redirect resources elsewhere, believing the seat remains winnable if a new candidate is chosen. The Maine democratic Party also supports his exit.<\/p>\n<p>State law requires Platner to step down by July 13 to allow for a replacement candidate; otherwise, the deadline to select a new nominee is July 27. The urgency is heightened by the ongoing allegations, which have caused several Democrats, including Ro Khanna and Ruben Gallego, to withdraw endorsement support. Democrats emphasize that there can be no tolerance for sexual assault, especially as they aim to win the Senate seat and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >hold key political figures accountable<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senior <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"249\">Democrats<\/a> are urging embattled Democratic Maine Senate candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"22643\">Graham Platner<\/a> to withdraw from the race against Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1302\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME), warning that all funding in support of Platner would be cut off should he stay in the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Calls for Platner\u2019s exit from the race roared after <em>Politico<\/em> reported a woman who previously dated\u00a0Platner\u00a0came forward with allegations that the\u00a0left-wing populist candidate<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/sexual-assault\/\"> sexually assaulted<\/a> her while severely intoxicated five years ago.\u00a0Platner has denied the allegations and said his campaign would be taking time to \u201creflect.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4638165\/graham-platner-biden-treatment-democrats\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Graham Platner is about to get the Biden treatment from Democrats<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4638055\/platner-bombshell-democrats-maine-ballot-deadline\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Platner bombshell leaves Democrats scrambling days before Maine ballot deadline<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4637999\/khanna-gallego-pull-platner-endorsements\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ro Khanna and Ruben Gallego pull Platner endorsements after sexual assault allegations<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a joint statement, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairwoman Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"384\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY) implored Platner to withdraw so a new candidate can step up.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGraham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins,\u201d their statement said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lauren French, a spokeswoman for the Senate Majority PAC, also released a statement on Monday that the organization would \u201credirect resources\u201d from Maine and urged Platner to withdraw from the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese are serious claims from multiple women, and they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-hollywood-website-hit-with-scandal-calling-reviews-into-doubt-report\/\" title=\"Hollywood website scandal casts doubt on reviews: Report\">raise real questions<\/a> about Graham Platner\u2019s fitness for office,\u201d French said. \u201cHaving lost the trust of the people of Maine, Platner should withdraw from this Senate race.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Senate Majority PAC, which has spent nearly $25 million in ad support for Platner, added that although it would redirect resources, the organization still sees potential to flip the seat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSenate Majority PAC is redirecting resources away from the Maine Senate race in light of the latest allegations against Graham Platner,\u201d the statement said. \u201cWe continue to believe this seat is winnable if Platner is not on the ballot, but we cannot strategically continue to invest here when there is an expansive battleground map where these resources can help win a Democratic majority.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elizabeth-warren\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"250\">Elizabeth Warren<\/a> (D-MA) has also called for Platner\u2019s exit, echoing earlier statements from Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ro-khanna\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5039\">Ro Khanna<\/a> (D-CA) and Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ruben-gallego\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"10230\">Ruben Gallego<\/a> (D-AZ), who<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4637999\/khanna-gallego-pull-platner-endorsements\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4637999\/khanna-gallego-pull-platner-endorsements\/\"> withdrew<\/a> their support as well. The Maine Democratic Party also called for Platner to withdraw from the race.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4638055\/platner-bombshell-democrats-maine-ballot-deadline\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4638055\/platner-bombshell-democrats-maine-ballot-deadline\/\">PLATNER BOMBSHELL LEAVES DEMOCRATS SCRAMBLING DAYS BEFORE MAINE BALLOT DEADLINE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere can be no tolerance for sexual assault,\u201d Warren said. \u201cWorking families are counting on Democrats to win the Senate election in Maine to unrig our economy and hold Donald Trump accountable. With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats\u2019 urgency stems from a Maine law that requires Platner to step down by July 13 in order for the party to select a new candidate in the race. Should Platner withdraw, Democrats will have until July 27 to select a new nominee.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats urge Platner to withdraw amid sexual assault allegations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2625849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2280200612.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3685,3728,65502,5894,34609],"class_list":["post-2625848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democrats","tag-election","tag-platner","tag-politics","tag-sexual-assault"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2280200612.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2625848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2625848"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2625848\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2625852,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2625848\/revisions\/2625852"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2625849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2625848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2625848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2625848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}