By Eesha Pendharkar | Senior Reporter
“These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue.” - Graham Platner on being accused on sexual assault by someone he previously dated.
Maine’s Graham Platner is the Democratic candidate for what’s considered one of the nation’s most competitive battles for the U.S. Senate. Platner, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, is shown at a rally at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star)
By Emma Davis
A woman who previously dated Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner told Politico that he sexually assaulted her. Platner denied the allegations. The oysterman and military veteran has faced a series of controversies during his campaign including alleged unsettling behavior toward previous romantic partners, but the accusations in the Politico story published on Monday amount to the most serious.
By Eesha Pendharkar
The Maine Democratic Party and several prominent state and national lawmakers are calling on U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner to drop out of the pivotal race to defeat Sen. Susan Collins after a Politico report of allegations of sexual assault against him. That includes members of Congress who previously endorsed him, including U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree, who both rallied with Platner ahead of the primary.
By Eesha Pendharkar
Religious schools accepting public funds are required to follow Maine laws that protect against discrimination based on faith, gender identity and sexual orientation, a federal court has ruled. Crosspoint Church, which runs Bangor Christian Schools, and St. Dominic Academy in Auburn filed separate appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston in January, 2025. The state’s anti-discrimination law infringes on their constitutional right to free exercise of religion, they said.
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