Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner of Maine has seen his support collapse after Politico reported a rape allegation against him, prompting one of his most prominent backers, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, to withdraw his endorsement and call on Platner to suspend his campaign. The development matters because it deepens an existing crisis around an already scandal-plagued insurgent candidate shortly before a primary, and highlights a wider rift among Democrats over whether to stand by him.

The new allegation comes from Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, a former partner who claims Platner entered her home in 2021 and forced her to have unprotected sex; Platner has denied the account and says his campaign is weighing its next steps. Khanna, who had personally campaigned with Platner in June, described the allegations as "serious and credible" and said sexual assault was a "red line". The claim adds to earlier controversies, including an abuse allegation from another ex-girlfriend, explicit messages sent to women while married, offensive online statements, and a Nazi-linked tattoo he wore for much of his adult life.