(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Graham Platner’s Campaign in Disarray [1] ['Blue Choir Singer', 'Dan K', 'Mikey Weinstein', 'Matt Z'] Date: 2026-07-06 Graham Platner– Get Out of the Maine Senate Race ASAP! July 6, 2026 GOPers have allowed candidates with allegations of sexual assault and questionable attitudes toward women to run in their primaries and get nominated. Democrats, however, can not in ANY way condone or even hint at endorsing such candidates who have a record of blatant misogyny. Democrats, unlike GOPers, are always expected to be the decent ethically upstanding party. Not only will our base, with many women in it, and the media cry foul over our ignoring such awful conduct, but Democrats would lose all moral standing and credibility if they failed to immediately purge such wrongdoers from their ranks. One of the reasons Democrats usually select already well-known candidates with strong records at the local and state levels to run in national contests is because they have already been vetted when they previously ran for financial irregularities, as well as other questionable moral and scandalous behavior. When a political novice with no record holding office suddenly appears on the scene to run in a primary, especially for a high national office such as the U.S. Senate, there is a very strong danger that the roar of the crowd for this “too good to be true” seeming man or woman will cause the party regulars to fail to check on that person’s total background and run over it with the proverbial “fine tooth comb” for embarrassing details that could derail this individual in the primary, general election, or later if he/she runs again for re-election, in addition to causing general criticism of the entire party for such a poor selection. In the Maine Senate race to take on GOPer “fake moderate” Susan Collins, an unknown oyster farmer, military veteran, and complete political novice Graham Platner suddenly puts out a splashy campaign launch in August 2026. https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/04/30/gov-mills-ends-campaign-for-u-s-senate/ Democratic Governor Janet Mills had been the pick of the D.C. Democratic establishment. Platner had been scouted by labor and community groups. https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/04/30/gov-mills-ends-campaign-for-u-s-senate/ Platner had received large crowds from the beginning. Mills (78) had been considered by some too old to run, a repeat of the issue that did in Joe Biden. On April 30, 2024 Gov. Mills withdrew from the Senate race because she lacked money. https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/04/30/gov-mills-ends-campaign-for-u-s-senate/ Platner seemed to have a lock on the nomination. However, although he received big crowds, controversy dogged novice Platner from the get-go. Last fall, Platner acknowledged that 18 years ago, while drunk, he had gotten a tattoo on his chest of a skull-and-crossbones image widely recognized as a Nazi symbol worn by SS concentration camp guards, “The Death’s Head.” He claimed that he was “unaware of its extremist association until the campaign started.” He then had it covered up. This spring, a former girlfriend of Platner’s told the NY Times that Platner had been aware of that symbol’s meaning years earlier. https://https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/06/us/platner-campaign-accusation In addition, several women who had dated Platner reported that he had treated them badly and had made nasty and light-hearted comments about rape.https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/06/us/platner-campaign-accusation Platner denied these charges. Unfortunately, when many women accuse a man of attempted sexual assault or related bad behavior, there is usually truth to these accusations. Now, in a July 6, 2026 interview in “Politico” magazine, a woman who gave her name, Jenny Racicot, made even stronger damning accusations against Platner. Racicot stated that she had dated Platner casually off and on between 2019 and 2021. She told the NY Times this spring about a 2021 incident in which she said that Platner had arrived at her house drunk after she asked him not to come over. She found his behavior “reckless” and “unsettling” and cut off contact with him soon after that episode. In this bombshell “Politico” interview, Ms. Racicot stated that on that night, Platner let himself into her home, climbed on top of her and kept grabbing her, even after she repeatedly told him to stop. He ignored her protests and followed her into the bedroom, where she said he had sex with her against her will. She told “Politico” that she kept telling him “No don’t .” Racicot realized at that time that “I was in a situation where there’s no consent here.” https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/06/us/platner-campaign-accusation Sounds to me like any reasonable person would call this forced sexual encounter by a male with a female Rape 101. Platner, in a direct-to-camera video, called the allegations “troubling, serious, and false.” He added that “any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false.” Give me a break! Platner’s Senate campaign is now, correctly, in complete disarray. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) rescinded his endorsement of Platner. Pod Save America, a popular liberal podcast, is rightly calling for Platner to drop out of the race. The Maine Democratic leadership is calling for Platner to resign. https://wwnytimes.com/live/2026/07/06/us/platner-campaign-accusation One of Platner’s most vocal supporters, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), wants Platner out of the race. He correctly called sexual assault or violence against women with these credible allegations a “red line.” Khanna too is withdrawing his endorsement. https://wwnytimes.com/live/2026/07/06/us/platner-campaign-accusation Platner himself stated he is taking time to “reflect” on his political path forward.https://wwnytimes.com/live/2026/07/06/us/platner-campaign-accusation What path “forward,” Mr. Platner? If you have any sense of decency, you must get out of this race ASAP. A credibly rape-accused Platner would be rightly clobbered by Susan Collins in a race that could determine the balance of the U.S. Senate . Platner has until July 13 to withdraw from the race. Should he withdraw, the ME Democratic Party has until July 27, 2026 to replace him on the ticket, according to that state’s law. https://wwnytimes.com/live/2026/07/06/us/platner-campaign-accusation Mr. Platner. While you “reflect” on the matter of your political future, please keep in mind what then Democratic VP nominee Al Gore said about H.W. Bush and Dan Quayle in 1992. “It is time for you to go.” [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/7/6/800066226/community/graham-platners-campaign-in-disarray/ Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/