Sen. Bernie Sanders says Graham Blatner should withdraw from the race following sexual assault allegations

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday became the latest and most high-profile lawmaker to withdraw his support for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate from Maine Graham Blatner following sexual assault allegations, adding to a chorus of calls for him to step down as party leaders scramble to determine next steps.

Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, has long supported Blatner in the high-stakes race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, but said in a statement that he spoke with the candidate and “in light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step down.”

Blatner, who denies the allegations, did not respond to a wave of calls to resign as a candidate. Instead, he posted a video Monday saying he was considering his campaign’s next steps while canceling city hall events.

Read more: Democrats began withdrawing Blatner’s endorsement after the Maine Senate candidate faced sexual assault allegations

Blatner posted the video after reports that a woman who was dating a first-time candidate said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she asked him to stop.

The allegation is the latest in a series of controversies Blattner has faced that have survived to this point since the oyster farmer and Navy veteran entered the race. But the seriousness of the assault allegation has put the contest in Maine — and Democrats’ ability to win control of the Senate — in jeopardy, with even some of his strongest supporters questioning whether Blatner should continue his campaign.

Plattner voter ‘heartbroken’

Joanie Monteith, an enthusiastic supporter from the southern Maine city of York, who organized a trivia night about Blatner in March, said through tears on Tuesday that she was “numb” and “heartbroken” when she heard the news. She was waiting for another public statement from Plattner before deciding whether she could continue to support him.

“I’m in tears. I’m numb and waiting for what Graham has to say. I’m trying not to be part of this public trial. And I’m heartbroken. And I’m sad for him and his wife.”

Read more: Tamara Keith and Carrie Dunn on Blatner are facing calls to withdraw from the Maine Senate race

She added that she believes these accusations are serious.

“I’m not going to blame the victim,” she said. “Because if that’s true, then I feel very sorry for the woman.” “You don’t know how to feel.”

Jenny Racicot, who lives in Maine, told Politico that Blatner entered her home in 2021 while drunk and assaulted her. Racicot said she had an on-and-off relationship with Plattner, but cut off contact with him after that night and told him the incident was not consensual. She said in an interview with CNN on Monday evening that she chose not to fight for fear that Plattner, a former Marine, would become more violent.

Another Maine voter, Lee Holman, said she wants Blatner to stay in the race.

“I feel like the people of Maine have spoken,” the Democrat said. “If they had wanted Janet Mills, they could have voted for her.”

He watches: How Maine Democrats view the Platner scandals and chances of ousting Senator Collins

She said the allegation against Blattner may be legitimate, but she questions the timing. She added that Democrats could be too quick to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” by demanding that politicians facing allegations resign.

“Every time we think we have a chance to take back our democracy, something gets in the way,” she said.

Replacing Platner could further divide Democrats

Pressure has mounted on Blatner to withdraw from the Senate race given the short deadlines allowed by Maine state law for replacing general election candidates. There is no mechanism for Democrats to remove Blatner from the ballot, meaning Blatner must first opt ​​out of the general election before selecting a replacement. The deadline for withdrawal is 5pm on 13 July.

Determining who should replace Blattner if he withdraws appears to already be further dividing Democrats. Some argued that the incoming Democrat should echo Blatner’s progressive messages, pointing to his success in mobilizing voters across the state. Others warned that having ties to Blatner would only doom an already arduous campaign against Collins.

Joe Baldacci, a Democratic state senator, said he’s concerned about what the latest allegations will do to voter agitation over the past year.

“I think the main concern, even with a new candidate or replacement, is that this person will start behind the eight ball,” Baldacci added.

Gov. Janet Mills, who sought the Democratic nomination but withdrew before the June 9 primary, could be considered a candidate. Mills had the support of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, but she abandoned her campaign, saying she could not raise the money necessary to compete.

Another potential replacement is Troy Jackson, the former Maine state Senate president, who ran unsuccessfully to be the Democratic gubernatorial nominee earlier this year with support from Blatner and Sanders.

Although he has not publicly announced his run for Maine’s Senate seat, U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna has thrown his name out there as someone who stands for “progressive values” after the California Democrat withdrew his support for Blatner.

Other names include Nirav Shah, former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Shah came in second place in the Democratic primary for governor of Maine this year, where he was considered more moderate compared to Jackson.

Shah said in a statement on Tuesday that he was “evaluating” whether he should enter the race if Plattner steps aside.

Sheena Bellows, current Maine Secretary of State; Dan Kleban, founder of Maine Brewery; Maine U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, who is not running for re-election, as well as Hannah Pingree, the current Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Maine.

Croci reported from Providence, Rhode Island