In the hours since one of Graham Platner’s former girlfriends accused him of rape, the Maine Democrat has lost the support of the state and national party, as well as nearly every prominent figure who stuck with him through his scandal-plagued campaign.
But he can still count on Stephen King.
“Graham Platner may drop out. (I hope he doesn’t, but.),” the septuagenarian horror writer and Maine resident posted on X. “Meanwhile, the Abuser in Chief just keeps on keepin’ on.”
Graham Platner may drop out. (I hope he doesn’t, but.) Meanwhile, the Abuser in Chief just keeps on keepin’ on.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) July 6, 2026
King, a former cocaine addict whose 1986 novel “It” depicts group sex among minors, has long promoted Democrats and leftwing causes on social media. But his defense of Platner — as well as his attempt to shift the focus to President Donald Trump’s alleged misdeeds — leaves him prominent among a rapidly dwindling group of supporters.
On Monday, Politico published a bombshell report in which 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot recounts how Platner drunkenly broke into her house in 2021 and raped her. The report, which includes corroborating evidence from Racicot and people with whom she shared the story, seems to have been the last straw for Democrats who stuck with Platner through revelations of his offensive social media posts, Nazi tattoo, presence on an app popular among sexual predators, and allegations of abuse from other women.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) demanded that Platner drop out in a statement with fellow New York Democrat Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. The statement said that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee — which Gillibrand chairs — “will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”
The Maine Democrat has also lost support from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), two of his earliest and most ardent backers. The Maine Democratic Party also withdrew its support, as did leftist podcaster Hasan Piker. Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego (D), embroiled in a controversy of his own, also called for Platner to drop out of the race.
Platner denied Racicot’s accusations in a two-minute video message shared to social media shortly after Politico’s story dropped.
“Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false,” Platner said. “Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful the political reality it will inflict, we are taking time to reflect on the best path forward.”
Maine Democrats face a July 13 deadline to swap Platner for another Democrat to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Racicot told Politico that she “didn’t come forward sooner” due to “the huge moral conflict that I had between supporting his politics, but not supporting him as a person.” Seeing other women come forward motivated Racicot to speak out, she says, noting that “I just want the truth out there. I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person.”
“Tell you what,” King wrote on X shortly after posting his initial statement of support. “If you knew the whole truth about everyone in the Senate and House of Reps, those chambers would be dead empty. Jesus said, ‘Let him without sin cast the first stone.’”
Tell you what–if you knew the whole truth about everyone in the Senate and House of Reps, those chambers would be dead empty. Jesus said, “Let him without sin cast the first stone.”
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) July 6, 2026
Two years ago this week, King urged President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race.