Graham Platner’s bid for a U.S. Senate seat from Maine ended in disgrace Thursday after three former romantic partners publicly accused him of physical abuse and making violent sexual threats.
The allegations, first reported by local Maine outlets and now spreading nationwide, include claims that Platner struck women, made explicit threats about committing sexual violence to “assert dominance,” and exhibited controlling behavior that left former partners fearing for their safety.
Two of the women spoke on the record. Sarah Mitchell, 34, told reporters Platner became physically violent during arguments at his Portland apartment in 2023, leaving visible bruises she photographed. “He would grab my arms so hard I couldn’t pull away,” Mitchell said. “When I tried to leave, he’d block the door.”
A second woman, who dated Platner in 2024, described escalating verbal abuse that turned physical. She provided text messages in which Platner allegedly wrote about using force against women who “don’t know their place.” The third accuser requested anonymity but gave a sworn statement to Maine state police detailing similar patterns of intimidation and physical aggression.
Most disturbing were allegations that Platner made repeated statements about committing rape as a demonstration of male dominance. According to Mitchell’s account, he said during an argument that he “would rape them to show I’m dominant” when discussing women he viewed as challenging his authority. The statement was reportedly made in front of witnesses at a private gathering.
Platner, a 41-year-old businessman who positioned himself as a political outsider challenging the establishment, had been gaining traction in Maine’s Republican primary. He raised $1.2 million in the first quarter and led in two recent polls among GOP voters.
His campaign issued a brief statement Thursday evening calling the allegations “categorically false” and part of a “coordinated political attack.” By midnight, however, his campaign website had gone dark and staffers told reporters they were no longer employed.
The Maine Republican Party swiftly distanced itself from Platner. Party chairwoman Demi Kouzounas released a statement saying “these allegations, if true, represent behavior completely incompatible with public service or basic human decency.”
Portland police confirmed they are reviewing the allegations but declined to say whether a criminal investigation has been opened. Maine’s Senate race, already contentious with incumbent independent Angus King seeking re-election, now faces a scrambled Republican field with less than five months until the primary.
Key Points
- Three former partners accused Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner of physical abuse and making violent sexual threats, ending his campaign within hours
- Two women spoke publicly, providing photographs, text messages, and witness accounts of controlling behavior and statements about using rape to assert dominance
- Platner’s campaign shut down overnight after briefly denying allegations, while Maine GOP leadership immediately condemned the reported behavior
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/06/uh-oh-three-ex-lovers-graham-platner-reveal/ – June 05, 2026
