Maine Senate hopeful Troy Jackson wipes out posts praising accused rapist Graham Platner
Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson has removed dozens of X posts that lauded Graham Platner before the latter faced rape accusations.
Newly confirmed Democratic nominee Troy Jackson scrubbed roughly twenty of his past X posts that had championed Graham Platner, who is now under a rape allegation from his ex-partner Jenny Racicot. The removed messages ranged from a May endorsement describing Platner as a “working-class” leader to a March video of the two playing pool and a congratulatory note after Governor Janet Mills ended her Senate bid. Jackson’s team explained that the deletions were necessary after the serious sexual-assault claim surfaced and that he now calls for Platner to withdraw.
With Platner out, Jackson was quickly tapped to replace him and clinched the nomination over the weekend, setting up a contest with Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Republicans have criticized Jackson, with RNC spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre accusing him of aligning with a “Nazi rapist.” The controversy highlights the rapid shift in campaign dynamics ahead of a pivotal Senate race.
Why it matters
The story shows how a candidate’s past social-media endorsements can become a liability in a high-stakes Senate contest.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage frames the story around systemic vetting failures and the normalization of accused men in progressive politics, while right-leaning coverage emphasizes Troy Jackson’s removal of supportive posts and Republican criticism of his handling of the scandal.
LEFT
Frames the episode as a symptom of broader progressive complacency toward accused men and flawed candidate vetting
RIGHT
Frames the episode as a political fallout where Jackson scrubs endorsements and faces Republican backlash
The left emphasises
- Moraff’s own abuse allegations may have blinded him to Platner’s red flags
- the case highlights normalizing accused men in left-leaning politics
- personal histories influence candidate vetting
The right emphasises
- Jackson deleted roughly twenty X posts praising Platner after the rape allegation
- Jackson now calls for Platner to withdraw and faces Republican criticism
- donors are urged to seek refunds for contributions to Platner’s campaign
In this story