Many left-leaning media figures who previously supported Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner have abandoned him following a rape allegation that has shaken the Democratic primary race. The shift came after Politico published a report Monday detailing an accusation from Jenny Racicot, who claimed Platner sexually assaulted her in 2021. Racicot told CNN that the alleged encounter, which Platner has denied, was the “dictionary definition” of rape. The allegation has prompted an about-face from high-profile journalists and commentators who had stood by Platner despite earlier controversies, including Nazi tattoo allegations, accusations of rape fantasies, heavy drinking, and a previous New York Times report about “unsettling” behavior toward women.
Former Obama staffer and “Pod Save America” co-host Jon Favreau had vehemently defended Platner in April, writing that he was “a good, decent man who’s struggled and grown.” On Monday, Favreau reversed course, calling for Platner to drop out. “These are awful, credible allegations,” he wrote, adding that Platner’s credibility was now “abundantly clear” as a problem. Far-left commentator Krystal Ball, who once declared “Senator Platner cannot arrive soon enough,” also changed her stance. “I agree that Platner should drop out. The allegations are horrible and I see no reason why his accuser would lie,” she posted Monday.
The Bulwark, an anti-Trump publication that had previously suggested Platner had a strong chance to be the 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, also turned against him. Founder Sarah Longwell called for Platner to exit the race, saying that when someone is “credibly accused of rape, that’s game over.” New York Times opinion columnist Michelle Goldberg expressed regret for an earlier column praising Platner, writing that she “deeply” regretted her favorable profile. “If anything, he seems to be significantly worse,” Goldberg wrote. Author Naomi Klein apologized to followers for failing to do her “due diligence on Platner before offering high praise for his communication skills.”
Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker also broke with Platner on Monday, saying the accusations were “as credible as it is going to get” and calling the situation “irredeemable.” MS NOW’s Antonia Hylton suggested that some Democrats initially found it hard to abandon Platner because his first accuser was “associated with right-wing politics.” The allegations have also drawn condemnation from high-profile Democrats, including Senator Bernie Sanders, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. VoteVets, an organization that works to elect Democratic veterans, withdrew its endorsement of Platner, who served multiple overseas deployments.
Under Maine law, Platner can be replaced on the ballot if he withdraws by 5 p.m. on July 13, with the state party allowed to put forward a replacement by July 27. Platner has denied the allegations and has not announced his plans. The rapid shift in support from media allies underscores the severity of the accusation and its potential impact on the Senate race, where Platner was seen as a strong challenger to Republican Senator Susan Collins. The controversy has also reignited debates about how the media and political figures handle allegations of sexual assault, particularly when they involve candidates from their own party.