U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer renewed his call for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner to end his campaign following new allegations of sexual assault, more than a month after first urging him to step aside so Democrats could replace him with a stronger general election nominee.
Gottheimer first called on Platner to withdraw on June 9, arguing that Democrats should have the opportunity to nominate a stronger candidate to run against Susan Collins, a five-term Republican senator from Maine.
Yesterday, Jenny Racicot said that Platner, her onetime boyfriend, raped her in 2021.
“The new allegations of sexual assault against Graham Platner are alarming and beyond unacceptable for any individual — regardless of whether they’re running for elected office,” said Gottheimer. “Let me be very clear: there’s no room in the Democratic Party or Congress for Graham Platner.”
“We should always stand up to hate and condemn abuse, not make excuses for it,” Gottheimer stated. “I’ve said it from the start: Platner needs to get off the ballot and make room for a candidate who can represent Maine with the integrity this seat and its constituents deserve.”
The new allegations have intensified pressure on Platner, whose campaign has been engulfed in controversy since abuse allegations first surfaced in June.
Since then, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim, along with other state and national Democratic leaders, have also called on Platner to step down.
Politico reported today that U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a Platner loyalist, said he told Sanders to withdraw from the race.