Becca Balint

A Maine woman who said that Platner sexually assaulted her nearly five years ago.

In light of new sexual assault allegations, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is calling on Maine’s U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Graham Platner to end his campaign.

Others in New England, too, called for his exit, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Rep. Seth Magazine, D-R.I.

In light of new sexual assault allegations, U.S. Rep. Becca Balint is calling on Maine’s U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Graham Platner to end his campaign.

"The allegations against Graham Platner are deeply disturbing and deserve to be taken seriously," Balint said in a statement. "I've spent the last year standing alongside survivors and making clear that powerful men cannot be allowed to escape accountability. That same standard applies here. He should step aside."

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., agreed, saying in a statement, "Now more than ever we need leaders in Washington who reflect our values. There can be no tolerance for sexual assault.

“With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race.”

Warren had endorsed Platner in March, after the oyster farmer had already been through a few scandals, including a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol and controversial Reddit posts. (He has since covered up the tattoo and apologized for the posts.) She continued to stand by him through recent reports that Platner exchanged sexual text messages with women outside his marriage.

But it’s the latest allegation from a Maine woman who said that Platner sexually assaulted her nearly five years ago that caused Balint, Warren, and many other Democrats, to un-endorse him and call for him to end his campaign.

Platner denied the account, which came to light after reporting in Politico and CNN on Monday, July 6. He said that "any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue."

Who has unendorsed Platner?

Warren is not the only big name progressive to remove her support for the oyster farmer. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who also campaigned for him, urged Platner to drop out of the race on Monday.

"I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line," Khanna said in a statement. "These allegations are very serious and credible."

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, said the accusations, which were made by a woman named Jenny Racicot, were "troubling and deeply serious." He said on social media he was rescinding his endorsement, but he did not initially explicitly say Platner should step aside.

Others in New England, too, called for his exit, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I.

Calls to drop out came both nationally and locally. Maine Democratic gubernatorial nominee Hannah Pingree, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson and Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows had all been endorsed by Platner in the Maine gubernatorial race, but all three rescinded their support for him. State leaders in the Maine Democratic Party immediately called on him to withdraw his candidacy.

"We are entrusted with deciding who represents our values and who carries our banner," Maine Democratic Party Chair Charlie Dingman, Vice Chair Imke Schessler and Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson wrote in a joint statement. "That responsibility requires judgment, leadership, and a willingness to act when circumstances demand it."

And Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, the head of Senate Democrats' midterm operation, said that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee would not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner is on the ballot – a financial death knell for his campaign.

Will Platner drop out?

In a video statement following the new reporting, Platner said he would be reassessing his campaign, but he did not immediately step aside.

"Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward," he said.

Contributing: Zachary Schermele, Terry Collins