Bernie Sanders has called on Graham Platner to withdraw from the US Senate race in Maine, citing “very serious allegations” of sexual assault. The progressive senator, one of Platner’s earliest and most influential backers, broke his silence days after POLITICO reported that a woman who dated Platner accused him of sexual assault.
The policy impact is immediate: the Democratic nomination for a competitive Maine Senate seat is now in doubt. Platner, who denied the claim, has said he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” as the party’s nominee. If he exits, Democrats would face a scramble to field a new candidate ahead of the general election.
A growing list of Democrats has urged Platner to stand aside, signaling a shift in party unity. The former state public health chief Nirav Shah, who ran in Maine’s gubernatorial race this year and finished short of victory, said Tuesday he is weighing a Senate bid amid the fallout. Shah’s potential entry could reshape the primary dynamics.
Public opinion in Maine remains unclear, but the unfolding scandal threatens to erode Democratic hopes for the seat. Platner’s campaign had previously shown strength, but intra-party fractures could harm the party’s general election prospects if the nominee is forced to change.
Political analysts note that such late-stage candidate crises can depress turnout and alienate swing voters. The trajectory now depends on whether Platner yields or fights the calls, a decision that will ripple through the November race.