New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner to drop out of the race Tuesday, hours after an ex-girlfriend accused him of rape.
Mamdani, who shares a key strategist with Platner, said the campaign should end in response to the allegation.
“I believe that it’s time for him to drop out of the race,” Mamdani told reporters at City Hall. “The focus of today should be to respond to the gravity of what so many of us have read.”
The statement adds to mounting pressure on Platner, the Democratic nominee challenging Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.
The Allegation
The accusation surfaced Monday in a Politico report. Jenny Racicot, 41, who dated Platner on and off for more than two years, said he entered her rural Maine home uninvited in late 2021 while heavily intoxicated. She alleged he forced her to have sex despite her repeated objections.
Platner and his campaign denied the claims. “These allegations are troubling, serious, and false,” the campaign said. Platner has described the accusation as a coordinated smear by political opponents.
Racicot told Politico she had consensual relations with Platner before the alleged incident but decided to speak out now. The report arrived weeks after Platner won the Democratic primary with more than 70 percent of the vote.
Also Read: Democrat Running for Maine Senate Accused of Assault by Ex-Girlfriend
Party Leaders Withdraw Support
Mamdani’s call follows similar moves by other Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York rescinded their endorsements. Rep. Ro Khanna and the Maine Democratic Party also urged Platner to step aside.
The Maine Democratic Party described the allegation as credible and said the party must refocus on winning the seat. State law allows replacement of a nominee who withdraws by July 13.
Platner has canceled several campaign events and said his team is considering the “best path forward.”
Platner’s Rise and Controversies
Platner, an oyster farmer and Marine Corps veteran, entered the race as a political newcomer with an unapologetically progressive platform. His primary victory marked a sharp leftward shift for Maine Democrats in the contest against Collins, a longtime moderate Republican.
The campaign has faced earlier scrutiny. Past reports detailed offensive Reddit comments from Platner’s younger years and allegations of mistreatment of women in relationships.
Also Read: Mamdani Speaks on Plan to Change Constitution So He Can Run for President
Platner has pushed back against these stories, framing them as attacks on his outsider status.
Morris Katz, a strategist who worked for both Mamdani’s mayoral campaign and Platner’s Senate bid, has reportedly advised Platner to stay in the race despite the fallout.
Outlook for the Race
The controversy threatens Democratic chances in one of the most watched Senate races of the cycle. Collins has held the seat for decades, and control of the chamber could hinge on outcomes in states like Maine.
Prediction markets and internal Democratic polling showed Platner facing a difficult general election even before the latest allegation.
Party leaders worry about the damage from continued controversy and the tight timeline for finding a replacement candidate.
As of Tuesday evening, Platner had not announced a decision. His campaign said it remained focused on “fighting for a Maine where everyone is treated with dignity.”
