Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner canceled a slate of upcoming fundraisers and paused digital ads Tuesday, the clearest sign yet that the embattled oyster farmer may abandon his bid to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, after a Politico report alleging he sexually assaulted a former girlfriend triggered a mass Democratic exodus.

The campaign has iced at least a half-dozen in-person fundraisers planned for the coming days and put Facebook and Instagram ads on hold, according to a person with direct knowledge of the moves cited by Politico.

On a call with staff Monday night, Platner told aides a decision was coming but stopped short of firm commitments, the outlet reported.

Donors are pulling away in real time.

Marc Weiss, who had organized a virtual fundraiser slated for Thursday, told attendees in an email that "in light of the very disturbing allegations against Platner, we have called off the event with him this Thursday."

Morris Pearl, chair of the Patriotic Millionaires and a co-host of the same event, told Politico the fundraiser was scrapped because of "all the uncertainty around" Platner's candidacy and predicted the nominee was "about to" drop out.

The pressure campaign hardened Monday after Politico reported that Jenny Racicot, a Maine woman who had dated Platner on and off, said he entered her home uninvited in late 2021 while intoxicated and forced her to have sex.

Platner denied the allegation in a video posted to X, calling any accusation of nonconsensual behavior "categorically false" and saying he would "reflect on the best path forward."

The Maine Democratic Party's chair, vice chair, and executive director called on Platner to withdraw, saying the party's leadership "stands with women and survivors, and that principle does not bend based on party affiliation."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, demanded he "immediately withdraw" and warned that the DSCC "will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot."

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., an early backer, said Tuesday he had recommended Platner step aside.

The clock is short.

Under Maine law, Platner must withdraw by 5 p.m. Monday, July 13, to allow the state Democratic Party to name a replacement, who must be selected by July 27.

Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson emailed state committee members Tuesday pledging an "open, inclusive, transparent, and fair" process for choosing a successor. Names circulating include former state Senate President Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and former state health director Nirav Shah.

Collins, the only Senate Republican representing a state Kamala Harris carried in 2024, is one of the cycle's top Democratic targets, and the Maine seat is central to the party's math for retaking the chamber.

Republicans hold 53 seats; Democrats need a net gain of four. Collins called the allegations "appalling" but said it is "not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate."