Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) addressed the string of controversies surrounding Maine Senate Democratic candidate Graham Platner on Tuesday, ahead of the state's primary election.
Platner is widely expected to win the Democratic nomination and will face incumbent GOP Sen. Susan Collins in the November general election. His campaign has received backing from progressive lawmakers including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
What the Left Is Saying
Speaking with CNN's Manu Raju outside the Capitol, Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged the gravity of allegations against Platner while framing the race as a referendum on Collins's policy record.
"Obviously, there's a lot in that behavior that's really challenging — it's hard to stomach," she said. "But at the end of the day, I think it's a choice."
Ocasio-Cortez pointed to Collins's vote for the GOP's One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year, which she argued would strip healthcare coverage from millions of Americans. "If the choice on the ballot is between that and a senator who's voted to take healthcare away from millions of Americans, that's the situation that we have to weigh," she said.
The New York Democrat told reporters that Democrats are not dismissing the allegations against Platner but emphasized the decision rests with Maine voters. "It's up to the people of Maine and the choices that they have before them," she said.
What the Right Is Saying
Collins, who is running uncontested in the Republican primary, called on Platner to provide detailed responses to the allegations during a Tuesday appearance on Capitol Hill.
"He owes the people of Maine a detailed answer" on these "extremely troubling" allegations, Collins told reporters.
Platner's campaign has pushed back against the claims. In an interview with MSNBC's Chris Hayes last Thursday, the Democratic candidate acknowledged taking responsibility for some conduct but disputed more serious allegations as politically motivated.
"There are some allegations in this piece that, I just want to be kind of unequivocal about, are simply not true," Platner said. "There are things in this that I absolutely will take responsibility for, and have been speaking about openly for months now, but those serious allegations are just not true."
What the Numbers Show
The New York Times reported at the end of May that Platner sent sexual texts to women who were not his wife during the early stages of their marriage. The outlet later published accounts from three previous romantic partners who described what they called "toxic" and "unsettling" behavior.
Platner has also faced scrutiny over a chest tattoo resembling a Nazi insignia and Reddit posts about Black people and sexual assault from several years ago that he has said he regrets.
Collins's vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year aligned with Republican efforts to reshape federal healthcare policy. Maine's primary election is scheduled for Tuesday.
The Bottom Line
The race in Maine represents a test of how voters weigh personal conduct against policy positions. Ocasio-Cortez's comments suggest national Democrats are accepting Platner as their nominee despite the controversies while betting that Collins's legislative record will be the dominant factor in November.
Platner's campaign has maintained that some allegations may be politically motivated, though he has not detailed specific evidence of such coordination. The candidate is expected to speak further ahead of Tuesday's primary election.