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Last year, at one of Graham Platner’s early rallies as a candidate for U.S. Senate, the gruff oysterman opened with a joke. “Until recently,” he told the crowd, “I thought that harbormaster of Sullivan, Maine, was going to be the extent of my political career.”
It turns out he may have been right. After weathering a welter of scandals to win the Democratic nomination, Platner is now facing widespread calls to drop out after an ex-girlfriend accused him of sexual assault. Today we’ll explain the fallout—and what it means for a race that could decide Senate control.
Rewind. Who’s this guy, again?
Platner is an oyster farmer, Marine Corps veteran, and first-time candidate. A bearded, tattooed, flannel-wearing political newcomer with a gravelly voice and workingman’s affect, he seemed poised to finally realize Democrats’ dream of unseating Susan Collins, Maine’s invincible-seeming Republican senator. Platner, who campaigned alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders and supports Medicare for All, also seemed to embody the theory that unabashed economic progressivism could win back disaffected voters who have abandoned Democrats.
I seem to recall some ugly headlines about him before now …
Good memory. The left-wing operatives who recruited Platner did little to vet their candidate, who turns out to have a long history of troubling behavior. As a Marine, Platner drunkenly got a tattoo that resembles a Nazi symbol. In Reddit posts, he downplayed sexual assault, used homophobic slurs, and called rural Mainers racist and stupid. Former girlfriends described conduct that bordered on domestic violence, including forceful grabbing and physical intimidation. Platner’s campaign also admitted that he sexted with multiple women after marrying his wife in 2023. Even his working-class credentials came under attack; the scion of a well-heeled family, Platner attended boarding school and got $200,000 from his dad to buy a house. But Platner has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, proclaiming himself a changed man. He easily won the primary last month.
What’s the latest controversy, and how are Democrats reacting?
A Maine Democrat named Jenny Racicot, who dated Platner off and on, told Politico that he entered her house uninvited and raped her while blackout drunk in 2021. That story, published Monday, was too much even for his staunchest backers. Now, Jill Filipovic writes for Slate, Democrats “are almost universally calling for Platner to drop out.” Members of Congress have rescinded their endorsements, and ideological allies like Sanders and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani have urged him to step aside. Platner, who denies Racicot’s accusations, says he’s “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.” (On Tuesday, a different Platner ex alleged that he repeatedly removed condoms during sex without her consent, which Platner also denied.)
“Time to reflect” sounds like politician-speak for “I’m going to drop out.” Can anybody replace him?
If Platner withdraws by Monday, the state’s Democratic Party can choose a new nominee who will appear on November ballots instead. But under Maine law, the party has only two weeks to pick, and there’s no formal process. As my colleague Jim Newell explains, the scramble recalls Democrats’ efforts to replace Joe Biden in 2024, but with even more of a time crunch and similarly high stakes: If Democrats hope to retake the Senate, they almost certainly have to beat Collins, who has a survivalist’s track record despite Maine’s blue lean. Party officials are reportedly talking about holding a statewide caucus or mini-convention to choose a replacement.
OK, but who?
Several contenders are already signaling interest. They include two Democrats who just lost the primary for Maine governor: Troy Jackson, a Sanders-endorsed state lawmaker, and Nirav Shah, a former Biden CDC official. But while Platner may be down, he’s not out. As of this morning, per NBC News, Platner hadn’t decided whether to drop out; if he does, he believes he can influence the party to pick an ideologically similar replacement. However! Jackson and other progressives repeatedly campaigned with and defended Platner, which Collins would surely seek to exploit. So even if he’s swapped out, Platner’s days of causing headaches for Dems may not be over.
Now that you’re all caught up, let’s switch gears. To help you kick back, I’d humbly suggest:
Infowars (the Onion’s version): After a two-year legal battle, the Onion has relaunched the conspiracy website Infowars with its own unhinged, parodic spin. Slate’s Lizzie O’Leary speaks with creative director, comedian, and chief Alex Jones impersonator Tim Heidecker about what’s next for the site.
A close read of a surprising celebrity choice: My colleague Christina Cauterucci—who’s written many a thoughtful and hilarious essay about public figures’ aesthetic choices—turns her attention to Taylor Swift’s unexpected choice of wedding-dress designer.
An engrossing true-crime story: In 1975, a bomb went off in LaGuardia Airport, killing 11 people and injuring 75. Investigators interviewed thousands and pursued leads in 38 states and three countries but came up empty. It was one of the greatest cold cases of the past 125 years—so why hasn’t anyone heard of it? Elon Green weaves the mystery’s disparate threads into a single, unforgettable narrative.
Some post-U.S. World Cup: Welp, despite Trump’s best efforts, Belgium knocked the U.S. out of the tournament in a decisive 4–1 drubbing last night. But you can still watch a sizzle reel of Argentina defeating Egypt and follow Switzerland vs. Colombia, which started at 4 Eastern.
Before I go, a quick correction: Speaking of the World Cup, I made a mistake in yesterday’s newsletter. The U.S. made history last week by winning a knockout-round game for the first time in decades, not by advancing to the round of 16 for the first time in decades. Soccer fans, please accept my apologies!
And with that, you’re free! Have a great rest of your night.