Platner Faces Backlash Over Vulgar Reddit Post on Victims
Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner is facing intensifying pressure to withdraw from the race after a resurfaced 2013 Reddit post showed him giving vulgar advice to rape victims, telling them to “take some responsibility” for avoiding assault. The comments come just days after a bombshell rape accusation from a former girlfriend threatened to derail his campaign entirely.
The Resurfaced Post
According to Fox News, Platner wrote in a 2013 Reddit thread: “Holy f---, how about people just take some responsibility for themselves and not get so f---ed up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to?” He continued: “Men and women, you make a choice to consume enough of a substance to lose your self control. So if you don’t want to be in a comprising [sic.] situation, act like an adult for f---s sake.”
The post, which resurfaced as Platner fights to salvage his Senate bid, reveals a pattern of victim-blaming that critics say is deeply at odds with the progressive platform on which he campaigned. Platner has since apologized for the comments and said he no longer holds those beliefs.
The Rape Allegation
The Reddit post is the latest in a cascade of damaging revelations. On July 6, Politico reported that Jenny Racicot, Platner’s former girlfriend, accused him of raping her in late 2021. Racicot told Politico that Platner entered her home while intoxicated and forced her to have sex despite her objections. She said she met Platner on a dating app in 2019 and had consensual relations before the alleged assault.
In a subsequent CNN interview, Racicot said Platner “violated multiple layers of consent that night. By coming into my home when I asked him not to, and by advancing on me when I told him not to.” She told CBS News that she did not fight back for fear of Platner, a former Marine, becoming more violent: “In that moment, I evaluated my safety. I basically felt safest just complying.”
Platner has denied the allegation, calling it “categorically false.” In a video posted to social media, he said: “Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we’re taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.” His campaign called the allegations “coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives.”
Democratic Leadership Calls for Withdrawal
The political fallout has been swift and severe. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and DSCC Chair Kirsten Gillibrand issued a joint statement, as AP News reported, calling on Platner to “immediately withdraw” from the race. The DSCC said it would not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who had previously stood by Platner through earlier controversies, withdrew his endorsement, stating: “I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and DNC Chair Ken Martin also called for Platner’s withdrawal. Our Revolution, the progressive organization founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders, joined the chorus, saying the allegations “are too serious to treat as a distraction.”
A History of Controversy
The rape allegation and resurfaced Reddit post are the latest in a string of controversies that have dogged Platner since he emerged as a political figure. In October 2025, he was forced to cover up a chest tattoo from his Marine Corps days that was recognized as a Nazi symbol. In May 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported that Platner’s wife had alerted his campaign to sexually explicit texts he sent to other women shortly after their marriage. The New York Times then reported on allegations of emotional and physical abuse from ex-girlfriends, which Platner denied.
Despite these controversies, Platner, 41, won the Democratic Senate primary in June after Gov. Janet Mills dropped out, consolidating support from progressive leaders who saw him as a populist champion capable of unseating the incumbent.
The Succession Battle
With the July 13 withdrawal deadline fast approaching, a succession battle is already underway. Under Maine law, Platner can be replaced on the ballot if he withdraws by 5 p.m. on July 13, and the replacement candidate must be named by July 27. Potential replacements include former state Senate President Troy Jackson, who has already launched an exploratory committee, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah.
The Maine Democratic Party has said it is developing an “open, inclusive, transparent and fair” process to select a replacement, but has declined to share details until Platner makes a decision.
Implications for the Senate Race
The race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has held the seat since 1997, is considered one of the most critical in the country for determining control of the Senate. Collins is the only Republican seeking reelection in a state that Kamala Harris won in 2024. Collins called the allegations “appalling” but said it is “not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate.”
If Platner remains on the ballot, Democrats risk losing a winnable seat that is essential to their hopes of winning a Senate majority. If he withdraws, the party faces a contentious succession fight that could expose internal divisions between the progressive and establishment wings.
What’s Next
All eyes are on Platner as the July 13 deadline approaches. His decision — whether to fight on or step aside — will determine not only the fate of his campaign but potentially the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.