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Sen. Bernie Sanders says Platner should drop out of the Senate race after sexual assault allegation

Sanders recommended that Platner step aside after sexual assault allegations were reported.

Sen. Bernie Sanders says Platner should drop out of the Senate race after sexual assault allegation
Image · Anchorage Daily News

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This article1 analysis · Oct 5, 2026

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Jul 7, 2026
tl;dr

Sen. Bernie Sanders recommended that Graham Platner leave Maine’s Senate race after sexual assault allegations were reported. With Platner’s status unresolved, Maine Democrats and potential replacement candidates are weighing what comes next.

Community verdict

27 VOTES
How does this story look for
Bernie Sanders I · VT · SEN
● OPEN

People in this story

SWIPE →
Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator who recommended that Graham Platner leave the Senate race

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Democratic Senate candidate facing sexual assault allegations and pressure to leave the race

Platner's version of this story ↗
Nirav Shah
D · ME

Potential Senate replacement candidate and former director of Maine's Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Republican senator facing Platner in the general election

Maine representative mentioned as a possible replacement who is not running for reelection

Former Senate candidate considering another run

Maine secretary of state named as a possible replacement

Dan Kleban
D · ME

Maine Beer Co. founder named as a possible replacement

Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

Senate Democratic leader who supported Mills's Senate campaign

Maine Senate candidate exploring a possible candidacy as Platner's replacement

Maine governor and former Democratic Senate candidate

ALSO MENTIONED  Adam Green, Co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee; Hannah Pingree, Maine Democratic gubernatorial nominee named as a possible replacement; Joseph Geevarghese, Leader of Our Revolution

Part of a bigger story

20 OUTLETS
Bernie Sanders Urges Graham Platner to Leave Senate Race

Outlets agree that Bernie Sanders recommended Graham Platner leave Maine’s Senate race after a woman accused Platner of sexual assault. Platner denied the allegation. Left-leaning outlets split between reporting Sanders’s call and criticizing his earlier support; Daily Kos frames the episode as a failure of progressive vetting. Center outlets focus on Sanders’s recommendation, the allegation and denial, and party decisions. Right-leaning outlets emphasize political fallout and Fetterman’s demand for an apology, while some cast Sanders’s shift as Democratic hypocrisy.

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