Joe Sudbay, host of “State of the States” on SiriusXM Progress and someone who knows Maine politics inside out, joined to talk about the terrible mess that is now the Maine Senate race—an important race that could decide if Democrats take control of the Senate this fall.
After a bombshell report yesterday alleging sexual assault, Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing calls to drop out of the race to take on Susan Collins. Prominent Democratic supporters—from Congressman Ro Khanna to Senator Elizabeth Warren—have pulled their endorsements, and the DSCC has said it would not provide any funding for his campaign. Platner has put his campaign events on hold while he “reflects.”
This came about after a Maine woman, Jenny Racicot, told Politico and CNN that she had dated Platner on and off and that he entered her home one night in 2021 and sexually assaulted her while she was in bed. She said he was intoxicated and would not leave as she tried to push him off and told him to stop. She complied—which is not consent—for her safety.
This comes after many other allegations had surfaced in recent months, from the Nazi tattoo and the toxic, bigoted posts against gays and women on Reddit to reports from other girlfriends of abusive behavior, including one that said he locked her in a room. Supports dismissed most of them as Platner, an Iraq war veteran, admitted he was struggling with PTSD and apologized. But this is the first actual rape allegation—and it is credible, with documentation from the time including Racicot telling friends and her therapist, and including emails—and it came after Platner had promised supporters nothing else was out there.
Platner denies the allegations outright but said in a video he understands the realities of the allegation’s impact and thus pausing and reflecting on what to do. It’s hard to see how he continues, with all funding sources and endorsements drying up. What will happen now?
Joe Sudbay, who has been quietly predicting this outcome for some time, spoke with me about it and about how Democrats can still beat Susan Collins.
Thank you Jools, kathiallyson, Natalie Hunter, Susan Von Tobel, Sharon Pettit, and many others for tuning into my live video with Joe Sudbay! Join me for my next live video in the app.
