Bernie Sanders calls on Platner to drop out of Maine Senate race

Senate Bernie Sanders calls on Platner to drop out of Maine Senate race Comments: by Helen Huiskes - 07/07/26 12:32 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Helen Huiskes - 07/07/26 12:32 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday said he told Democrat Graham Platner to withdraw from the race for Maine Senate in the wake of a report alleging Platner sexually assaulted a woman he was dating in 2021.

“I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine,” Sanders said in a brief statement. “In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.”

Sanders, a progressive Senate Democrat, was one of the most prominent backers of Platner’s campaign as it gained momentum. Platner has been running to flip the Senate seat held by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) as Democrats hope to retake their Senate majority in November.

Sanders is the latest Democrat to drop support for Platner since the allegation was reported by Politico on Monday afternoon. Several of Sanders’ Senate colleagues who had backed Platner, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), have pulled their endorsements.

Senate Democratic leadership including Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the national political arm for Senate Democrats, have also called on Platner to step aside and make room for a new candidate in the fight to defeat Collins.

Prominent progressive leaders including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have also come out against Platner.

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