The latest allegation against Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner appears poised to sink his campaign, marking the second time this election cycle that a candidacy for a major candidate in the party has imploded over allegations of sexual misconduct – raising questions about whether the party knew about each of their potentially damaging pasts or failed to vet the candidates.

Platner's outsider bid captured the attention of Maine voters – as well as the country's political class – so much so that primary rival Gov. Janet Mills effectively quit the race months before the June election – despite his campaign having been beset essentially from the start by scandal including his contentious Reddit posts, extramarital texting and a Nazi Totenkopf tattoo. 

But the most recent allegation, made public Monday, that he forced himself on a woman he was dating several years ago while drunk has major Democrats rescinding their endorsements and calling for him to step aside, while he pauses his campaign to ponder “the best path forward” towards unseating GOP Sen. Susan Collins in November. 

The pause comes roughly three months after Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his highly competitive bid for California governor after allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct with several women, including a former staffer who said the congressman sexually assaulted her.

Swalwell called these accusations “absolutely false," nearly identical to what Platner said about the one this week regarding him.

Swalwell, notably, was in Congress for more than a decade and was a prominent figure in the party for much of his time in Washington, which has raised questions about how or why such allegations didn't surface until deep into his gubernatorial campaign. The Department of Justice opened an investigation into Swalwell in April.

Democrats regretful

The Platner scandal has at least a few prominent figures on the left admitting that they had misjudged the 41-year-old progressive oyster farmer due to his policies and overlooked signs that he may not be as strong a candidate as they would like.

“I deeply regret that, impressed by Platner’s political charisma, I wrote that he was ‘nothing like the edgelord caricature I encountered online.’ If anything, he seems to be significantly worse,” wrote New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said on Fox News: “I would really call Bernie Sanders to apologize for pushing this kind of predator more than anyone he helped him elect ... . Maybe he should stop pushing these communists.” 

Republicans skeptical

Republicans appear doubtful that Democrats were unaware of his shortcomings and damaging past alleged conduct.

“The worst part of this is that they knew all this, and they went ahead with them,” Wall Street Journal columnist Bill McGurn said Monday on Fox News about Platner and his past.

“The Left’s Platner dance is a classic," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a X post. "They minimized allegations of physical abuse and false imprisonment when the accuser was a conservative. Now they’re 'shocked' that he’s accused of rape and are desperate he be forced out of the race in time to replace him on the ballot.” 

Fitton seemed to be referring to Lyndsey Fifield, whose X post was below his. She is an ex-girlfriend of Platner who has publicly accused him of past violent behavior. She also reportedly co-founded the group for women that showed its support for conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh when accusations of sexual assault came out before his confirmation hearings.

“Democrats in Maine should stand by their man. They knew plenty of horrific stuff about Graham Platner before this week's latest revelation,” GOP strategist Erin Maguire said.

Platner’s game of chicken

Platner has until July 13 to drop out, which would allow the state party to hand-select his replacement on the ticket. 

Speculation has abounded that the party may tap either Gov. Janet Mills or one of the failed candidates from the state's Democratic gubernatorial primary.

The state party has called on Platner to step aside and the party’s campaign arms have indicated they will not support him, but all concede that the Senate race in Maine is one of the most important for Democrats to take control of the Senate.

“This Senate race comes at a pivotal moment in the struggle against a government, supported by Senator Collins, that serves the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of ordinary Maine people,” the state party said in a statement. “It is essential that we refocus this campaign on that struggle.”

But Platner does have leverage. If he merely makes it to Monday without withdrawing, he will be locked in as the party candidate and much of the party leadership that has rushed to distance itself from him may be forced to reluctantly accept his continued candidacy.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.