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  Graham Platner says he is reflecting on ‘best path forward’ as pressure mounts to exit Maine Senate race


Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner says he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” on Monday after a woman told CNN and Politico he raped her while he was heavily intoxicated nearly five years ago when they were in a casual dating relationship – an allegation Platner denies.

Democratic support for Platner’s campaign had collapsed Monday evening, with calls for him to exit the race mounting by the minute.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and the head of the party’s Senate campaign arm vowed not to spend money trying to beat the five-term Republican incumbent, Sen. Susan Collins, unless Platner withdraws and is replaced by another Democratic nominee.

“The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable,” Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said in a statement. “Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins. The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”