Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner, a self-avowed socialist, was the latest darling of the Democratic Party, which is in the process of rebranding itself as far left.
Even after a series of scandals involving Platner—a Nazi-themed tattoo, insulting a Purple Heart recipient, and several reported instances of sexual abuse—Democrats flocked to him as it looked like he could be the one to finally unseat incumbent moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
But after the avalanche of bad press and the polling began to change in Collins’ favor, and after another woman this week essentially accused Platner of raping her, Democrats began calling for Platner to drop out ahead of a July 13 deadline so they can replace him with someone who has far less personal baggage.
One of those having a change of heart is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, another self-avowed socialist who, on Tuesday following the latest sexual assault claim, went public asking Platner to step aside.
“I believe that it’s time for him to drop out of the race. … I think the focus of today should be to respond to the gravity of what so many of us have read (about Platner), and I think the only appropriate response is for the campaign to come to an end,” he told reporters at an unrelated press conference on Tuesday.
But then, at the same time, Mamdani’s senior political adviser, Morris Katz, traveled to Maine as questions mounted about the future of Platner’s campaign.
Katz, 27, has advised Platner since the launch of his left-wing Senate campaign last year.
The New York Post reported that Katz had encouraged Platner to remain in the race.
However, a person familiar with the campaign told City & State that was not the case.
According to the source, Katz’s consulting firm, Fight Agency, is instead helping Platner wind down campaign operations and determine the next steps, including identifying a potential replacement on the Democratic ticket.
While Platner has not formally suspended his campaign, most campaign activities have been paused. Under Maine election law, he must withdraw within a few days for Democrats to nominate a replacement to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Fight Agency is not the only outside consulting firm that has worked with Platner. Brooklyn-based Slingshot Strategies, whose recent clients include the campaigns of Rep. Grace Meng and New York Assembly Member Alex Bores, has also advised the Senate campaign.
The developments follow a report published Monday by Politico, in which one of Platner’s former partners publicly accused him of essentially raping her while he was intoxicated.
Mamdani’s remarks represented a relatively uncommon foray into politics outside New York City.
Although he has emerged as a nationally recognized figure among many progressive Democrats, the mayor has generally avoided taking public positions on elections beyond the city he leads, City & State reported.
“When it comes to my own endorsements, I’ve made eight endorsements at the state and federal level,” he said on Tuesday.
“They’ve all been right here in New York City. I’m incredibly excited at the fact that they won their races, and that’s where my focus is for now,” he added.
Politico reported Monday that Jenny Racicot, a Maine resident and a liberal Democrat, accused Platner of forcing her to have sex with him nearly five years ago.
Platner denied the allegation.
Racicot alleged Platner sexually assaulted her in 2021 after arriving at her home despite her telling him not to come.
Racicot said the two had previously been in a consensual relationship after meeting through a dating app in 2019.
She alleged Platner appeared intoxicated when he arrived at her home and forced himself on her despite repeated objections.
Politico reported it also spoke with a man Racicot later dated who said she confided in him about the alleged assault.
