US Democrat withdraws from Senate race amid rape allegation

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

Washington: Democratic candidate Graham Platner has paused his campaign and announced he will withdraw from Maine's much-awaited US Senate election after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2013. The claim stopped Democrats' efforts to flip the Republican-held seat in the 2026 midterm elections.

Platner, a Marine Corps veteran and first-time candidate, flatly disputed the accusation, claiming it was ‘categorically false.’ He stated that his decision to step aside was not an admission of wrongdoing, but rather an attempt to save the campaign from being overshadowed by the allegation. He also stated that he will focus on defending himself against the claim.

The accusation, first reported by the Maine Morning Star, sparked a strong protest from Democratic leaders. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and several important party members, including Senator Bernie Sanders, withdrew their support and asked Platner to call off his campaign.

Maine election law permits the Democratic Party to choose a replacement candidate before the state's filing deadline. The campaign is viewed as one of the party's best prospects to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins, making the news a huge setback for Democrats ahead of the November election.