Graham Platner, the insurgent Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, is scheduled to appear Friday evening in Bar Harbor alongside Rep. Ro Khanna of California and other Democratic candidates for a get-out-the-vote rally, just days ahead of the June 9 primary election where he is expected to secure the nomination. The event comes as reports continue emerging about Platner's history with women, including sexually explicit messages he sent while married and accounts from former girlfriends describing behavior they characterized as volatile and insulting.
Platner has pitched himself throughout his campaign as an imperfect person who has redeemed himself. With Maine's primary around the corner and Democrats seeking a candidate capable of defeating Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November, there has been little sign so far of voters or political allies abandoning him. He previously faced questions about a tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol he had covered up during his campaign and inflammatory comments from his former Reddit posts.
What the Right Is Saying
Critics have pointed to the broader pattern of controversies surrounding Platner as evidence of poor judgment. The New York Times reported that some former girlfriends described him as volatile and insulting during their relationships. One woman told the newspaper that Platner twisted her arm during an argument and locked her in a room, which his campaign called untrue.
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." According to The Wall Street Journal, Gertner had informed the campaign in August about the messages she discovered on his phone last year.
Republican groups have highlighted these reports as they prepare for the general election. A former girlfriend told The New York Times that Platner joked about his Nazi symbol tattoo being a "my Totenkopf" reference after being informed of its meaning, though Platner has said he didn't realize what the tattoo represented when he got it. Some Republican strategists have argued these revelations could provide contrast with Collins, who is seeking her sixth term.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic supporters have largely continued to back Platner despite the controversies. Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Ruben Gallego remain among his most prominent endorsers. Supporters argue that the need for Democrats to take back control of the U.S. Senate outweighs concerns about personal conduct, framing the race as too important to cast aside imperfect candidates.
Deb Dagnan, chair of Maine's Piscataquis County Democrats, acknowledged voter anxiety while suggesting many are willing to move forward. "People want somebody new," said Paige Zeigler, a former Maine Democratic lawmaker and head of the Waldo County Democrats. "They want somebody that they feel that they can embrace. And Platner is riding that wave."
Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, addressed the controversy in a video she filmed for his campaign, calling the coverage "gossip" and saying "being married is hard." Her comments resonated with some Democratic voters who said the issue should remain between the couple. "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, defended Gertner's honesty about working on her marriage and mental health. "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."
What the Numbers Show
Platner entered the race as a political newcomer without prior elected office experience but quickly attracted thousands at his rallies and campaign events. He has collected millions in campaign funds, according to reports from his campaign, which he has used to amplify progressive populist messaging focused on income inequality, healthcare accessibility and housing costs.
His top primary opponent, Gov. Janet Mills, suspended her campaign in late April, leaving Platner as the presumed Democratic nominee. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has not publicly withdrawn support despite the controversies. Maine's ranked-choice voting system would apply if no candidate receives a majority of votes in Tuesday's primary.
Democrats need to flip one seat to gain Senate control with this year's elections. Collins won her last election in 2020 with 51 percent of the vote in a state that has voted for Democratic presidential candidates in recent cycles, making the Maine race a key target for national Democrats.
The Bottom Line
The rally represents a test of whether high-profile progressive endorsements can insulate Platner from sustained scrutiny heading into the general election. With Senate control at stake, national Democrats face a difficult calculus over how to handle a nominee whose personal conduct has generated negative headlines while his policy positions align with party priorities.
What remains unclear is whether additional information about Platner's past could emerge ahead of November that proves disqualifying for voters beyond his core supporters. "I think a lot of people are afraid," said Dagnan, the Piscataquis County Democrats chair. "They're waiting for the other shoe to drop after he gets the nomination. Then what do we do?" That question may define Democratic strategy in Maine for months to come.