Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is confronting fresh political challenges after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021, a claim he has denied, as new polling suggests voters have little tolerance for additional controversies involving him.

The new allegation was reported by Politico, which interviewed Maine resident Jenny Racicot. She alleged that Platner entered her home while intoxicated in late 2021 and forced her to have sex despite her repeated objections. She told the outlet that she had previously been involved in an on-and-off relationship with Platner and that the encounter was not consensual.

Platner rejected the allegation in a video statement posted to X, calling it “troubling, serious, and false” and saying that “any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false.”

The controversy lands at a critical moment for Democrats, who view Maine as one of their best opportunities to flip a Republican-held Senate seat. Platner, a Marine veteran and oyster farmer, won last month’s Democratic primary and has remained competitive against six-term Republican Senator Susan Collins in public polling.

But with the general election campaign intensifying, the latest allegation against the progressive candidate threatens to refocus attention on Platner’s personal conduct rather than the issues at the center of the race.

The new allegation comes as a key deadline approaches under Maine election law. State statute allows a political party to replace a general-election nominee who withdraws after a primary, but only if the withdrawal occurs by 5 p.m. on the second Monday in July. This year, that deadline falls on July 13. If Platner were to step aside before then, Maine Democrats would retain the ability to select a replacement for the November ballot.

While rejecting the allegation, Platner, who has recently canceled several campaign events, acknowledged the political fallout it could create and said he was weighing the future of his campaign. He said he and his team were “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” for Maine, his supporters and the broader effort to defeat Collins.

Newsweek has reached out to the Platner campaign via email on Monday afternoon for comment.

Platner has already faced scrutiny over reports involving offensive online comments, sexually explicit messages and a tattoo that critics said resembled a Nazi symbol. Platner has apologized for some aspects of his past conduct while denying allegations that he abused women.

Racicot’s allegation arrives as questions mount about Platner’s political standing. An exclusive Wedgewood Polls survey conducted before the latest report found that 75 percent of voters believed Platner should drop out of the race if another negative story about his personal life surfaced. Just 20 percent said he should remain on the ballot. The findings suggested many voters who had remained supportive despite earlier controversies could reconsider their backing if new allegations emerged.

End Citizens United rescinded its endorsement of Platner and called on him to leave the race following Politico’s report. ECU President Tiffany Muller told Newsweek in a statement that the allegations were “profoundly disturbing and disqualifying,” saying the conduct alleged is inconsistent with the standards expected of candidates the group supports and stressing that “no candidate, elected official, or political party is exempt from accountability.”

She said Maine Democrats should quickly rally behind a replacement nominee who can “earn voters’ trust” and focus on “ethical leadership, accountability, and fighting corruption.”

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