Maine Senate Democratic candidate Graham Platner has suspended his campaign amid widespread calls to drop out due to sexual assault allegations against him.

Maine Democrats Face One-Week Deadline After Sexual Assault Allegation Rocks Graham Platner Campaign

Platner announced his decision on Wednesday in a lengthy video posted to social media.

"My name might be on the ballot right now, but that ballot line belongs to the people of Maine," Platner wrote.

Watch his video address below:

More from The Guardian:

The oyster farmer and marine veteran – whose populist platform packed town halls, raised millions early in the race and built enough momentum to force his primary challenger, Governor Janet Mills, to suspend her bid – has been dogged by controversy since entering the Senate contest last year.

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Platner faced fresh scrutiny on Monday after a woman who dated him made allegations in Politico that he forced her to have sex nearly five years ago despite repeated objections. Jenny Racicot, 41, said she had an on‑and‑off relationship with Platner for more than two years. She alleges that in late 2021, an intoxicated Platner entered her home uninvited and forced himself on her. She said she cut off contact after the encounter.

Platner rejected the allegations in a video posted on social media. “Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false,” he said in a direct‑to‑camera message. While calling the reporting inaccurate, he said his campaign was “mindful of the political reality” the accusation “will inflict”.

“We are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to,” he added after the report.

But the allegations quickly prompted Democrats, including Senate leader Chuck Schumer, to call on Platner to drop out of the race. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee – the party’s main vehicle for fundraising, recruitment, and helping to elect Senate candidates – said it would not spend money on the Maine race if Platner did not withdraw his candidacy.

Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson is the leading candidate to replace Platner as the Democratic nominee to face incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in November's election.

Jackson has already filed the necessary paperwork to replace Platner.

Democrat Files Paperwork To Potentially Replace Graham Platner As Party’s Senate Nominee

"Susan Collins turned her back on Mainers a long time ago. Together, we can defeat her," Jackson said on Wednesday.

Fox News shared further:

Platner, a populist Democrat backed last September by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was challenging longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a high-profile, combustible and expensive race in Maine, which is one of a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November's midterm elections.

Platner's exit from the race comes five days before a crucial deadline, which, if he had missed, would have prevented Maine Democrats from replacing him with a new nominee on the general election ballot.

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