Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told Newsmax on Thursday that Maine Democrat Graham Platner would have lost by a wide margin to Republican Sen. Susan Collins had he stayed on the ballot, and blamed Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and the party's progressive wing for elevating a candidate whose record he called disqualifying.

On Wednesday, Platner announced he would suspend his U.S. Senate campaign following a sexual assault allegation, upending one of the most closely watched races of the 2026 midterms.

In an appearance on "Rob Schmitt Tonight," Banks said Platner's collapse should have surprised no one.

"What a dirtbag the guy is, and everybody knew it. The Democrats knew it," he said.

"The Republicans knew it. The voters in Maine knew it."

Platner, a Marine veteran and oyster farmer, won the June 9 Democrat primary after Maine Gov. Janet Mills exited the race in late April.

His candidacy weathered months of controversy, including scrutiny over a chest tattoo widely recognized as a Nazi symbol, online postings dismissive of sexual assault, and reports that he sent sexually explicit messages while he was married.

Support cratered Monday after Politico reported that Jenny Racicot said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop.

Banks said the Democratic Party had ignored obvious warnings.

"All of the signs were there, from a Nazi tattoo to what he said about a Purple Heart veteran that didn't deserve to live," he said, calling those remarks alone disqualifying for the Senate.

He also described Platner as a Democrat who supports defunding the police and opposes federal law enforcement, which he said "is becoming the mantra of the Democrat Party all over the country."

Asked whether party operatives had vetted Platner, Banks shifted the focus to Sanders, who endorsed Platner in August 2025 and withdrew his endorsement Tuesday.

"Chuck Schumer doesn't run the Democratic Party. Bernie Sanders does," Banks said.

"And Bernie Sanders vetted Graham Platner, and Graham Platner passed the Bernie Sanders test."

He said the "communist socialist wing led by Bernie Sanders" had "anointed" the nominee.

"Only after it became painfully clear to the Democrats that they were going to lose badly to Susan Collins did they yank this guy off the ballot," he said, predicting Collins would beat whoever the state party nominates.

He noted that Platner has not yet filed withdrawal paperwork, which, under Maine law, must be submitted by 5 p.m. July 13 for Democrats to name a replacement by the July 27 deadline.

"He hasn't taken his name off the ballot yet," Banks said. "The deadline is on Monday, and he's going to play games up to that point to try to influence who the Democrats choose to replace his name."

The Maine Democratic Party has approved a nominating convention to pick a replacement.

Maine is one of a handful of seats Democrats are targeting as they seek a net gain of four to flip the Senate majority in November.

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