Maine voters are talking about Graham Platner’s arguments
Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is in trouble for his past behavior, including allegations of abuse by ex-girlfriends and a controversial tattoo he previously had. Fox News reporter Alexis McAdams describes the divided opinion among Maine voters as Platner prepares for Tuesday’s rally against GOP incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna’s support for Platner is also highlighted.
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Support for Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner is overwhelming Democrats, and one of his top supporters is calling for him to drop out of the race in the wake of horrific rape allegations.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., withdrew his endorsement and called on Platner to suspend his campaign following a bombshell Politico report detailing the sexual assault case of Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, who previously dated a scandal-plagued man.
Platner quickly denied Racicot’s account — and allegations that he broke into her home in 2021 and forced her to have unprotected sex — but said her campaign would decide next steps.
“I was clear that sexual harassment or harassment of women is a red line,” Khanna said in a social media post on Monday evening. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner must withdraw from the race. I withdraw my endorsement.”
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., speaks at a town hall event on Feb. 20, 2026 in Stanford, California. The town hall was focused on charging billions and the future of AI. (Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images)
DEMOCRATS REST WITH GRAHAM PLATNER FACING SCANDAL, WARN OF WAR IN COUNTRY
The sharp statement comes as Khanna, a leftist with potential presidential ambitions, has embraced Platner’s months-long Senate campaign amid many controversies.
Khanna personally campaigned with the Maine Senate hopeful in June just before Platner won the Democratic primary nomination. The suspension of the campaign came one day after Lyndsey Fifield, Platner’s ex-girlfriend, accused Platner of harassment — allegations first reported by the New York Times that Platner vehemently denied.
At the time, Platner was also facing scrutiny for sending sexually graphic messages to at least half a dozen women while he was married, making dozens of offensive online statements over the course of a decade and getting a Nazi-linked tattoo that he wore for much of his adult life.
Khanna has previously appeared to dismiss the harshness of Fifield’s account and many Democratic lawmakers, who hold to his background in Republican politics. He also pointed out that Platner, a veteran who struggled with PTSD, had overcome a dark future and deserved redemption.
“Here you have the case of a person who had a dark chapter in his life, who had a toxic relationship, he was ashamed of it, who served this country, and the voters of Maine said, ‘Look, let’s give him grace, and his focus is to stop these wars, and he gets national health insurance, and he takes on economic inequality, “Khanna told CBS News in an interview.
Democratic US Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at his primary campaign event in Blue Hill, Maine, on June 9, 2026. (CJ Gunther/Getty Images)
WATCH: DEM SENATORS EXCUSE PLATNER’S BEHAVIOR IN PROBLEM WITH MAINE ASSISTANT
And Khanna told Fox News’ Martha MacCallum in June that he asked Platner if there were any credible allegations of sexual abuse that had not been disclosed. He said Platner denied it.
“I’ve made it clear that, to me, it’s a red line,” the California attorney said. He said, No, there is none.
“Now, apparently, he had documents that were said to be consensual, and while he was married, And that’s his story with his wife. And his wife came out and said she forgave him. And so that’s a different story to me than abuse or assault or what people do in Epstein’s class. It’s a very different story.”
Khanna wasn’t the only prominent Platner supporter to dash Senate hopes following Monday’s sexual harassment allegations.
Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., withdrew his endorsement Monday evening, but stopped short of calling Platner out of the race.
Gallego, a former colleague of former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., has faced scrutiny for his treatment of women in the past. The Senate Ethics Committee recently rejected a complaint brought by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., unanimously.
Leftist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who has campaigned for statewide elections, distanced himself from Platner on Monday.
Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., talks to reporters as he heads to the U.S. Capitol for a vote on Jun. 1, 2026 in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
“This is beyond red flags. This cannot be found,” Piker said during the live stream.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Platner’s campaign for comment.
