Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for Senate from Maine, faced mounting pressure on Monday from within his party to withdraw from the race after an allegation that he had sexually assaulted a woman.
Mr. Platner denied the accusation, which was published on Monday in Politico, but said he was taking time to “reflect” on his political path forward.
He has until July 13 to withdraw from the race, which both parties see as crucial to the battle for control of the Senate. If Mr. Platner does drop out, the state Democratic Party has until July 27 to replace him on the ticket, according to Maine law.
Several prominent Democrats who had defended Mr. Platner through a series of unsettling revelations about his past called on Monday for him to leave the race. His campaign had previously been marred by a series of controversies, including a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, his history of inflammatory posts online, and a New York Times report detailing that women he had dated recounted him acting in disturbing ways.
The report on Monday was the first to accuse Mr. Platner of sexual assault. Jenny Racicot, who said she had dated him casually off and on between 2019 and 2021, told Politico that Mr. Platner had sex with her against her will.
“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” said Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who had been one of Mr. Platner’s most vocal supporters. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”
The leadership of the Maine Democratic Party also called on Mr. Platner to withdraw, citing “serious, credible allegations” from multiple women.
Senator Ruben Gallego, Democrat of Arizona, said in a social media post that he was “rescinding my endorsement” of Mr. Platner, calling the allegations against him “troubling and deeply serious.” He stopped short of calling for the candidate to resign. (Mr. Gallego has faced criticism for his endorsement of former Representative Eric Swalwell, the California Democrat who resigned from Congress and ended his campaign for governor in the face of allegations of sexual assault.)
Senator Susan Collins, the Republican incumbent Mr. Platner is challenging, said in a statement that the “allegations are appalling.” But she added, “It is not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate.”
