Maine Democrats Divided Over Platner: What Else Are We Going to Do as Party Infighting Reaches a Boiling Point with Platner at the Center
Some voters have expressed their opinion that there has been an excessive focus on Graham Platner's personal life, which has become a significant aspect of his campaign.
Graham Platner was initially considered to be the Democrats' most promising candidate to defeat longtime Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, a crucial step in their path to regaining control of the Senate. However, the emergence of personal scandals has significantly impacted the race, leading to a reevaluation of Platner's candidacy.
ABC News conducted interviews with several voters from different parts of the state, highlighting the division among voters in Maine regarding Platner and his campaign.
Nancy Jacobson, a resident of Bangor, stated that the latest allegations reported in The New York Times have shaken her, but she believes that there are no other viable options at this stage, and she expects more information to surface about Platner in the future.
Jacobson posed the question, "What else are we going to do with this stage in the game?" and expressed her sentiments by saying, "I feel like his political mission is sincere, and that's what I'm voting for," indicating that she is willing to look beyond the personal issues and focus on Platner's political agenda.
Over the past week, The New York Times published two separate reports, one of which included allegations that Platner had sent sexually explicit text messages to multiple women, an issue that was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, and another report that featured former girlfriends alleging that they found his behavior to be "intimidating and disturbing."
Platner has acknowledged that he was "a far from perfect boyfriend" in the past, but he has denied ever being physically threatening or violent towards his partners. His wife, Amy Gertner, has expressed her support for her husband throughout this challenging period.
In a video statement released after the reports on the text messages surfaced, Gertner said, "No marriage is perfect, and I don't want a perfect marriage," and added, "I want my marriage, and I want to be married to Graham," demonstrating her commitment to their relationship.
Some Maine Democrats are anxious that new allegations could harm Platner's chances of defeating Collins in the upcoming election in November, which has led to a sense of uncertainty among the party's supporters.
Maine state Reps. Allison Hepler and Holly Eaton informed ABC News that they plan to vote for Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, despite the fact that Mills suspended her campaign in April.
Eaton initially endorsed Platner but later withdrew her support, stating that she would not vote for him in November, even with the control of the Senate at stake, due to the emergence of controversial information.
Eaton said, "I actually endorsed Platner at one point," but she explained that she pulled her endorsement after learning about his controversial, years-old online comments, as well as allegations that Platner had a tattoo associated with Nazism on his chest.
She stated, "That was not someone that I could support," and added, "There's a lot that can happen between now and November, and so I would be, honestly, I'll tell you, I will never vote for Graham Platner," emphasizing her strong opposition to Platner's candidacy.
Platner has vehemently denied knowing about the tattoo's connection to Nazism until October of the previous year, nearly 18 years after he got the tattoo, and he had it covered up that month in an effort to distance himself from the controversy.
Sarina Brooks, a lifelong Mainer and mental health therapist who identifies as a Democrat, said that she is maintaining her support for Platner for the time being, despite the recent allegations.
Brooks stated, "At this point, I'm holding my support for him in place," and added, "I do always hold the right to change my mind at this point, but I still support him," explaining that she believes in the policies and values that Platner represents.
Brooks said, "I stand behind what he stands for," and expressed her opinion that "for me, I think that he is still our best option, but we will wait and see how things pan out," indicating that she is willing to give Platner the benefit of the doubt and wait for further developments.
Other Democrats in Maine, including Christopher Mejo, are unbothered by the recent allegations and consider their decision to support Platner an "easy choice" due to his policy positions.
Mejo said, "I'm not looking to be his friend, I'm looking for somebody who will represent my interests," emphasizing that his primary concern is Platner's ability to effectively represent the people of Maine.
Tyler Stoddard from Portland shared a similar sentiment, stating that he believes there has been too much focus on Platner's personal life, which he thinks is not directly relevant to his ability to govern.
Stoddard said, "I think that we're really zooming in on all the personal matters in Graham Platner's life that doesn't actually affect his policies and what he stands for and what he could do for the state," highlighting the need to separate Platner's personal life from his political agenda.
The New York Times article published on Thursday was based on interviews with several women who were previously involved with Platner, and it included allegations of toxic behavior that had a significant emotional toll on the women involved.
Some of the women interviewed for the article claimed that Platner could be demeaning to women and, in at least one case, even physically threatening, which has raised concerns about Platner's character and behavior.
Others in the article described him as a "gentle giant," which has contributed to the complexity and nuance of the situation.
Platner has stated that he struggled with undiagnosed PTSD and self-medicated with alcohol, but he has denied any physical roughness with his partners, emphasizing that he is committed to accountability and growth.
At a rally in Bar Harbor, Maine, on Friday night, Platner addressed the controversies that have unfolded during his campaign, insisting that he still has the support of the state's voters, who are willing to give him a chance to prove himself.
Platner said, "When hurtful things I said on the internet a decade ago came out into the public as I shared my personal journey through PTSD and darkness of recovery and accountability and growth, Maine had my back," expressing his gratitude for the support he has received from the people of Maine.
He added, "Now, as every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated, and weaponized, you have my back," which was met with loud applause and cheering from the audience, demonstrating the strong support he still enjoys.
Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, appeared with him at the rally and received a standing ovation from the audience, which was a significant moment in the campaign.
According to reports published earlier in the week by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, Gertner had alerted Platner's campaign in 2025 about the sexually explicit text messages her husband allegedly exchanged with multiple women, which has been a major issue in the campaign.
Platner said in a statement to the media earlier in the week, "Amy and I went through something hard -- because of me," and expressed his gratitude for his wife's support, saying, "We did the work, and I'm grateful for her every hour of every day," highlighting the challenges they have faced together.
Platner has drawn criticism from some Democratic lawmakers and met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other senators on Capitol Hill this week in an effort to shore up support and address concerns among Democratic leadership.
However, many Democrats are sticking with the embattled, likely nominee, including Rep. Ro Khanna, who headlined Platner's Bar Harbor rally on Friday, demonstrating the party's commitment to supporting Platner's candidacy.
Khanna said, "The Democratic Party, from Schumer to [Sen. Bernie] Sanders, is united with a single goal: we will defeat Susan Collins in November," emphasizing the party's determination to win the election.
In an interview with ABC News before the event, Khanna said that he spoke to Platner about the latest allegations reported in The New York Times, and expressed his concerns about Platner's behavior.
Khanna stated, "I said that what he did was toxic and wrong," and added, "I talked to him about it," explaining that Platner acknowledged his mistakes and expressed a commitment to growth and accountability.
Khanna said, "He agrees that it was misogynistic," and added, "He says it was a dark period of his life," which has been a challenging aspect of Platner's campaign.
The California progressive noted that Platner is a veteran who went to two tours of duty in Iraq and came back with significant personal struggles, which has contributed to the complexity of the situation.
Khanna said, "Now, I'm not saying that excuses what he did -- he accepted accountability -- but I believe in redemption," emphasizing the importance of giving people a second chance.
He added, "To me, the big issues are, are you going to stand against the war in Iran? Are you going to stand against billionaires and the wealth inequality? Are you going to stand to bring down prices? Are you going to stand to defeat Susan Collins?" which are the key policy issues that Khanna believes are crucial in the election.
Khanna said, "That's why I think the Democratic Party needs to unify behind Platner, who is going to be our nominee, and we've got to win this seat," emphasizing the importance of party unity and winning the election.
When asked if he is asking the people of Maine to essentially look past the personal issues and focus on policy, Khanna responded, "No, I think that they should look at those issues," and added, "But I believe they should give Graham Platner a chance to explain the period of his life that he was in and evaluate: Has he grown? Has he matured? Has there been a sense of redemption?" which highlights the need for a nuanced and balanced approach to evaluating Platner's candidacy.
Graham Platner was initially considered to be the Democrats' most promising candidate to defeat longtime Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, a crucial step in their path to regaining control of the Senate. However, the emergence of personal scandals has significantly impacted the race, leading to a reevaluation of Platner's candidacy.
ABC News conducted interviews with several voters from different parts of the state, highlighting the division among voters in Maine regarding Platner and his campaign.
Nancy Jacobson, a resident of Bangor, stated that the latest allegations reported in The New York Times have shaken her, but she believes that there are no other viable options at this stage, and she expects more information to surface about Platner in the future.
Jacobson posed the question, "What else are we going to do with this stage in the game?" and expressed her sentiments by saying, "I feel like his political mission is sincere, and that's what I'm voting for," indicating that she is willing to look beyond the personal issues and focus on Platner's political agenda.
Over the past week, The New York Times published two separate reports, one of which included allegations that Platner had sent sexually explicit text messages to multiple women, an issue that was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, and another report that featured former girlfriends alleging that they found his behavior to be "intimidating and disturbing."
Platner has acknowledged that he was "a far from perfect boyfriend" in the past, but he has denied ever being physically threatening or violent towards his partners. His wife, Amy Gertner, has expressed her support for her husband throughout this challenging period.
In a video statement released after the reports on the text messages surfaced, Gertner said, "No marriage is perfect, and I don't want a perfect marriage," and added, "I want my marriage, and I want to be married to Graham," demonstrating her commitment to their relationship.
Some Maine Democrats are anxious that new allegations could harm Platner's chances of defeating Collins in the upcoming election in November, which has led to a sense of uncertainty among the party's supporters.
Maine state Reps. Allison Hepler and Holly Eaton informed ABC News that they plan to vote for Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, despite the fact that Mills suspended her campaign in April.
Eaton initially endorsed Platner but later withdrew her support, stating that she would not vote for him in November, even with the control of the Senate at stake, due to the emergence of controversial information.
Eaton said, "I actually endorsed Platner at one point," but she explained that she pulled her endorsement after learning about his controversial, years-old online comments, as well as allegations that Platner had a tattoo associated with Nazism on his chest.
She stated, "That was not someone that I could support," and added, "There's a lot that can happen between now and November, and so I would be, honestly, I'll tell you, I will never vote for Graham Platner," emphasizing her strong opposition to Platner's candidacy.
Platner has vehemently denied knowing about the tattoo's connection to Nazism until October of the previous year, nearly 18 years after he got the tattoo, and he had it covered up that month in an effort to distance himself from the controversy.
Sarina Brooks, a lifelong Mainer and mental health therapist who identifies as a Democrat, said that she is maintaining her support for Platner for the time being, despite the recent allegations.
Brooks stated, "At this point, I'm holding my support for him in place," and added, "I do always hold the right to change my mind at this point, but I still support him," explaining that she believes in the policies and values that Platner represents.
Brooks said, "I stand behind what he stands for," and expressed her opinion that "for me, I think that he is still our best option, but we will wait and see how things pan out," indicating that she is willing to give Platner the benefit of the doubt and wait for further developments.
Other Democrats in Maine, including Christopher Mejo, are unbothered by the recent allegations and consider their decision to support Platner an "easy choice" due to his policy positions.
Mejo said, "I'm not looking to be his friend, I'm looking for somebody who will represent my interests," emphasizing that his primary concern is Platner's ability to effectively represent the people of Maine.
Tyler Stoddard from Portland shared a similar sentiment, stating that he believes there has been too much focus on Platner's personal life, which he thinks is not directly relevant to his ability to govern.
Stoddard said, "I think that we're really zooming in on all the personal matters in Graham Platner's life that doesn't actually affect his policies and what he stands for and what he could do for the state," highlighting the need to separate Platner's personal life from his political agenda.
The New York Times article published on Thursday was based on interviews with several women who were previously involved with Platner, and it included allegations of toxic behavior that had a significant emotional toll on the women involved.
Some of the women interviewed for the article claimed that Platner could be demeaning to women and, in at least one case, even physically threatening, which has raised concerns about Platner's character and behavior.
Others in the article described him as a "gentle giant," which has contributed to the complexity and nuance of the situation.
Platner has stated that he struggled with undiagnosed PTSD and self-medicated with alcohol, but he has denied any physical roughness with his partners, emphasizing that he is committed to accountability and growth.
At a rally in Bar Harbor, Maine, on Friday night, Platner addressed the controversies that have unfolded during his campaign, insisting that he still has the support of the state's voters, who are willing to give him a chance to prove himself.
Platner said, "When hurtful things I said on the internet a decade ago came out into the public as I shared my personal journey through PTSD and darkness of recovery and accountability and growth, Maine had my back," expressing his gratitude for the support he has received from the people of Maine.
He added, "Now, as every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated, and weaponized, you have my back," which was met with loud applause and cheering from the audience, demonstrating the strong support he still enjoys.
Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, appeared with him at the rally and received a standing ovation from the audience, which was a significant moment in the campaign.
According to reports published earlier in the week by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, Gertner had alerted Platner's campaign in 2025 about the sexually explicit text messages her husband allegedly exchanged with multiple women, which has been a major issue in the campaign.
Platner said in a statement to the media earlier in the week, "Amy and I went through something hard -- because of me," and expressed his gratitude for his wife's support, saying, "We did the work, and I'm grateful for her every hour of every day," highlighting the challenges they have faced together.
Platner has drawn criticism from some Democratic lawmakers and met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other senators on Capitol Hill this week in an effort to shore up support and address concerns among Democratic leadership.
However, many Democrats are sticking with the embattled, likely nominee, including Rep. Ro Khanna, who headlined Platner's Bar Harbor rally on Friday, demonstrating the party's commitment to supporting Platner's candidacy.
Khanna said, "The Democratic Party, from Schumer to [Sen. Bernie] Sanders, is united with a single goal: we will defeat Susan Collins in November," emphasizing the party's determination to win the election.
In an interview with ABC News before the event, Khanna said that he spoke to Platner about the latest allegations reported in The New York Times, and expressed his concerns about Platner's behavior.
Khanna stated, "I said that what he did was toxic and wrong," and added, "I talked to him about it," explaining that Platner acknowledged his mistakes and expressed a commitment to growth and accountability.
Khanna said, "He agrees that it was misogynistic," and added, "He says it was a dark period of his life," which has been a challenging aspect of Platner's campaign.
The California progressive noted that Platner is a veteran who went to two tours of duty in Iraq and came back with significant personal struggles, which has contributed to the complexity of the situation.
Khanna said, "Now, I'm not saying that excuses what he did -- he accepted accountability -- but I believe in redemption," emphasizing the importance of giving people a second chance.
He added, "To me, the big issues are, are you going to stand against the war in Iran? Are you going to stand against billionaires and the wealth inequality? Are you going to stand to bring down prices? Are you going to stand to defeat Susan Collins?" which are the key policy issues that Khanna believes are crucial in the election.
Khanna said, "That's why I think the Democratic Party needs to unify behind Platner, who is going to be our nominee, and we've got to win this seat," emphasizing the importance of party unity and winning the election.
When asked if he is asking the people of Maine to essentially look past the personal issues and focus on policy, Khanna responded, "No, I think that they should look at those issues," and added, "But I believe they should give Graham Platner a chance to explain the period of his life that he was in and evaluate: Has he grown? Has he matured? Has there been a sense of redemption?" which highlights the need for a nuanced and balanced approach to evaluating Platner's candidacy.
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