AUGUSTA, MAINE (VINnews) – Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine, ended his campaign Wednesday following a series of scandals that eroded support from party leaders, including a recent rape allegation.

Platner, a Marine Corps veteran and oyster farmer, launched his bid last year as a progressive challenger to longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins. He secured the Democratic nomination in June after Gov. Janet Mills effectively withdrew from the primary.

The campaign unraveled after a former girlfriend, Jenny Racicot, publicly accused Platner of raping her in 2021 while he was intoxicated. Platner has denied the allegation, describing it as false.

The accusation proved to be the breaking point after months of prior controversies. These included resurfaced Reddit posts from 2009-2021 in which Platner referred to himself as a “communist,” called police “bastards,” and made inflammatory remarks about rural white residents, sexual assault, and other topics.

Additional scrutiny focused on a tattoo on Platner’s chest resembling the Nazi-linked “Totenkopf” symbol, which he said he got during military service without understanding its significance and later covered up. Reports questioned his claims of ignorance.

In May and June 2026, further allegations emerged, including reports that Platner sent sexually explicit texts to multiple women while married, and accounts from ex-girlfriends describing volatile and sometimes physically intimidating behavior in past relationships. Platner has denied wrongdoing, attributing some issues to past struggles with PTSD.

Prominent Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and others, withdrew their endorsements. The Maine Democratic Party and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee called for him to suspend his campaign and indicated they would not fund the race with Platner on the ballot.

Platner had faced criticism within the Jewish community over his strong opposition to Israel, including accusations of genocide in Gaza, calls to block U.S. aid, and criticism of AIPAC. He hosted a Passover seder earlier this year as part of outreach efforts amid the controversies.

With a July 13 withdrawal deadline approaching, Platner’s exit leaves Democrats scrambling for a replacement candidate against Collins in the November election.

VINnews will continue to monitor developments in the Maine Senate race.