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Despite winning the Democratic primary in Maine last month, Senate candidate Graham Platner could be off the ballot in November after a Politico story published on Monday detailed a woman accusing him of sexual assault.
July 13 is the deadline for Platner to withdraw from the race and have a replacement, according to the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.
The deadline for the Maine Democratic Party to replace their nominee on the ballot is July 27, in accordance with a state law that states a party has until 5 p.m. EDT on the fourth Monday in July of an election year to do so.
“The name of a candidate for an office on the general election ballot who withdraws for any reason 70 days or more before the general election must be removed from the ballot,” Maine law states.
That means if Platner withdraws on or before Aug. 25, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) must remove him from the ballot.
The Politico article details allegations of sexual assault against Platner from Jenny Racicot, who said she had an on-and-off relationship with the Marine Corps veteran for two years. Racicot told the news outlet that Platner entered her Maine home uninvited one night in 2021 and forced himself onto her while she repeatedly told him to stop.
“I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” she told Politico. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’”
Racicot told the outlet that Platner’s breath smelled of alcohol and he was “almost blackout drunk” during the alleged encounter. He later followed Racicot to her bedroom and had sex with her against her will, Racicot alleged.
While he denied the allegations, Platner said Monday he is “taking the time to reflect on the best forward” in the campaign.
“Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false,” Platner said in a video message he posted to social platform X.
If he were to end his campaign by the July 13 replacement deadline, a person appointed by Maine Democratic State Committee chair Charlie Dingman must convene a nominating meeting, according to the state party’s charter.
In the Democratic primary last month, Platner defeated David Costello and Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D), who suspended her campaign in April. The Democratic nominee in the race will take on five-term incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in November.
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