Democratic politician Graham Plattner announced yesterday, Wednesday, that he will not run for a seat in the U.S. Senate following rape allegations against him—which he denies— but which sparked widespread calls for him to withdraw from the race in Maine, a state critical to his party’s securing a majority in Congress.

“We are suspending our campaign,” said the former Marine in a video posted on X. He had previously been supported by figures on the American left such as Bernie Sanders, but whose campaign was undermined by scandals.

My name might be on the ballot right now, but that ballot line belongs to the people of Maine. pic.twitter.com/RKVyLU76tm

— Graham Platner for Senate (@grahamformaine) July 9, 2026

Emphasizing that his withdrawal is not an admission of guilt, Graham Platner once again denied the allegations against him and accused the party apparatus of blocking his path.

The race in Maine is one of the key contests in November for Democrats, who are seeking to wrest control of the Senate from the Republicans.

This agricultural and coastal state in the northwestern U.S. has consistently voted for Democratic presidential candidates since 1992. However, its outgoing senator, Susan Collins, has been elected as a Republican four times since 1996.

If Graham Plattner were to face the 73-year-old in a few months, polls showed him leading, as his message about fighting the oligarchy and lowering the cost of living was popular.

His withdrawal means that another candidate—male or female—will be selected by the state Democratic Party.

His fate appeared to be sealed following a report by Politico on Monday, according to which a former partner of his claims that he raped her five years ago while he was intoxicated.

Source: Protothema.gr