Maine Democrat Platner says he will 'reflect' on Senate campaign, denies sexual assault allegation

Graham ​Platner, the Democratic nominee for a US Senate seat in Maine, said he was taking time to reflect on his campaign but denied allegations in a ​Politico report that a woman he had dated accused him of sexual assault nearly five years ago.

“We are ‌taking ‌the ​time to reflect on the best path forward,” Platner said in a statement.

Politico said the woman ⁠detailed the allegation in ​three interviews. It reported that it ​also reviewed documents including emails between the woman and her therapist ‌and others.

Platner did not indicate ​whether he was considering suspending his campaign or dropping out of ⁠the race. It was ⁠also unclear whether ​Maine governor Janet Mills, who had been running for the Senate seat but suspended her campaign earlier this year amid Platner’s surge in fundraising and polling, would rejoin if he left the race.

Platner is attempting to capture the Senate seat long held by Republican seator Susan Collins. The ‌race is one of ⁠the most closely watched contests in this year’s November 3rd midterm elections.

Collins’ seat is a key target in Democrats’ ‌drive to win majority control of the Senate. Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, ​while Democrats control 47. They would need ​a net gain of four seats to take over the 100-member chamber.