Reeher Discusses Graham Platner, Impact on on Midterm Elections in Newsweek Article

July 9, 2026

Newsweek

Grant Reeher

Political Science Department

Campbell Public Affairs Institute

Congress

U.S. Elections

United States

Newsweek

Grant Reeher

A sexual assault allegation against Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner in Maine—which he denies—prompted top Democrats, including Bernie Sanders, to withdraw support and ultimately led him to leave the race against Republican Senator Susan Collins. Analysts say the controversy could reduce Democrats' chances of winning the seat and complicate their broader path to a Senate majority.

“The situation certainly makes it much harder for any replacement to defeat Collins, and therefore it makes it one seat harder to retake the Senate,” says Grant Reeher, professor of political science. He says that though it's hard to quantify, he estimates the situation in Maine could reduce the likelihood of Democrats retaking the Senate by about 20 percent from what the chances were previously.

Read more in the Newsweek article, “How Graham Platner Rape Allegation Could Change the Midterms.”