Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson has filed paperwork to seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, positioning himself to replace nominee Graham Platner if Platner exits the race following a sexual assault allegation that he has forcefully denied.

Jackson's move comes days after Politico published an interview with Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine woman who alleged Platner forced her to have sex in late 2021 despite her repeated objections.

Racicot told the outlet she remembered "him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful" and said there was a moment when she realized, "This is no longer my choice."

She said she decided to come forward despite sharing Platner's politics because, "I just want the truth out there. I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person."

Platner has categorically denied the allegation.

"These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue," Platner said in a statement.

His campaign later alleged the accusations were part of a coordinated political effort to force him from the race.

Jackson told the Bangor Daily News he had not spoken with Platner but was prepared to step in if the Democratic nominee withdraws.

"This is a very, very serious allegation, but I haven't talked to Graham," Jackson told the outlet.

"This is something I never considered, but if Graham's stepping away, I am very, very interested and think I'm the best person to replace him."

Jackson adviser BJ McCollister said Platner's continued candidacy threatens Democrats' chances of unseating longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

"Ultimately, the Democratic Party has an opportunity to unseat Susan Collins because there is such a progressive change mood among Maine voters right now, and for him to stay in the race is squandering that opportunity for Democrats, but also progressive values," McCollister said.

McCollister argued Jackson is the strongest potential replacement, citing his electoral success in northern Maine, while acknowledging Jackson would need to more forcefully address the allegations against Platner after endorsing him during the primary.

He added that Jackson "outperformed expectations in the primary election while being massively outspent, and he holds those progressive values that Mainers are so hungry for right now."

Platner, an oysterman and Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, won last month's Democratic primary and is set to challenge Collins in one of the country's most closely watched Senate races.