PORTLAND, Maine — Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Graham Platner plans to stage his first significant campaign event Friday evening while facing ongoing scrutiny over his conduct with women.
His campaign dealt with revelations last weekend regarding sexually explicit communications Platner allegedly sent to multiple women during his marriage. Thursday brought additional reporting from The New York Times about his romantic history, with some former partners describing him in positive terms while others characterized him as unpredictable and demeaning.
One former partner accused Platner of physically restraining her arm during a dispute and confining her to a room. Platner has denied this claim.
With Maine’s primary election scheduled for Tuesday and Democrats eager to unite behind a nominee capable of unseating Republican Sen. Susan Collins this fall, there has been minimal indication that voters or political supporters are distancing themselves from Platner, who has presented himself as a flawed individual seeking redemption.
Some have dismissed the text message reports as personal business that should remain between spouses. Others contend that the Democratic Party’s need to regain Senate control from Republicans is too critical to abandon candidates with imperfections.
However, concerns persist about whether additional damaging information about Platner might surface before November’s general election.
“I think a lot of people are afraid,” said Deb Dagnan, chair of Maine’s Piscataquis County Democrats. “They’re waiting for the other shoe to drop after he gets the nomination. Then what do we do?”
Platner represents a crucial component of Democratic efforts to reclaim Senate control this cycle. However, he has faced persistent controversies including disclosure of a previously concealed tattoo featuring Nazi imagery, a record of provocative social media posts, and the recent messaging allegations.
Despite these issues, Platner’s high-profile endorsers have maintained their support, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Ruben Gallego. Platner is set to appear in Bar Harbor Friday evening alongside progressive Rep. Ro Khanna of California, plus Democratic nominees for U.S. House and governor, for a voter mobilization event in the coastal community.
The gathering occurs just days before the state’s June 9 primary contest, where Platner is anticipated to claim the Democratic nomination. His leading challenger, Gov. Janet Mills, ended her campaign in late April.
He faces renewed examination following reports that he and spouse Amy Gertner have experienced marital strain and pursued counseling after he reportedly sent sexually explicit messages to other women.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Gertner informed the campaign in August about the messages, which she discovered on his device last year, to ensure they wouldn’t damage the campaign. Platner’s team reportedly concluded the texts were private matters being addressed by the couple, who wed in 2023.
Genevieve McDonald, a former campaign staffer for Platner, told The Associated Press that the candidate was “sexting multiple women while married” and that “the campaign tried to assess that as an election vulnerability.”
Following the story’s publication, Platner released a five-minute video recorded by Gertner, who avoided directly addressing her husband’s alleged texts but called the broader media attention “gossip” and noted “being married is hard.”
Gertner’s candid remarks about working through marital challenges have connected with some women, who express outrage that a former campaign worker would violate confidentiality and believe the matter should remain between the spouses.
“It’s none of my business as far as I’m concerned,” said Joanne Mason, a local Democratic leader from south-central Maine. “And I would hope that people wouldn’t judge any one person on their own private marriage.”
Valerie Tate, a Democrat from Belfast, praised Gertner’s openness about addressing their mental health and relationship challenges.
“That is not a scandal,” Tate wrote in an email. “That is integrity. Personal growth is not a disqualification from public life. For many of us, it is precisely what made us worthy of it.”
Nevertheless, Tate acknowledged lingering unease. As the public continues learning about Platner’s background, there remains possibility that something could emerge as a deal-breaker for voters.
“Of course, there is that concern as there would be in any race with somebody we don’t know all the dramas and the journeys they’ve been on,” she wrote. “Something could come out that would be disqualifying.”
This marks another chapter in Platner’s pattern of facing questions about his history. He previously had a tattoo associated with Nazi symbolism, which he covered after launching his campaign.
Platner has claimed he was unaware of the tattoo’s significance. However, a former girlfriend informed the Times he made jokes about it being a Nazi symbol and referred to it as “my Totenkopf.”
Platner’s past Reddit activity has also drawn scrutiny, including posts that minimized military sexual assaults and contained homophobic language, for which he has expressed regret.
Having never served in elected office, Platner has built a direct-speaking, progressive, populist campaign centered on issues including economic inequality, healthcare access barriers, and housing affordability. His approach has drawn thousands to rallies and events while generating millions in campaign contributions to amplify his message.
“People want somebody new,” said Paige Zeigler, a former Maine Democratic lawmaker and head of the Waldo County Democrats, explaining Platner’s continued strength. “They want somebody that they feel that they can embrace. And Platner is riding that wave.”
