Maine Governor Janet Mills is making it clear she has not left the Democratic Senate primary, even as the race gets overshadowed by a sexting scandal involving her opponent, Graham Platner. In an interview with the Sun Journal, Mills emphasized she merely suspended active campaigning due to a lack of funds but remains a candidate on the June 9 ballot.
“People have the impression that I ‘withdrew’ or ‘dropped out,’ but I simply suspended active campaigning. I am still on the ballot,” Mills told columnist Steve Collins. Her statement comes as Platner faces fresh scrutiny over sexually explicit messages sent to women other than his wife, Amy Gertner, whom he married in 2023.
The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday on Platner’s texts, which included explicit images. Gertner said she discovered the exchanges in 2025 and that the couple worked through the issue with counseling. “Our marriage today is stronger than ever before,” she told the Journal, adding, “I know who Graham is. I know the man I married.”
Before stepping back from active campaigning, Mills had secured endorsements from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, EMILY’s List, and other groups. Those organizations were reportedly alarmed by Platner’s past racist comments on Reddit and his decision to remove a tattoo resembling a Nazi totenkopf. One House Democrat has publicly urged Maine voters not to support Platner.
The controversy has not deterred all of Platner’s Senate colleagues. Senators Chris Murphy and Bernie Sanders continue to back him, while Cory Booker has expressed concern over Platner’s conduct. Representative Seth Moulton has also stood by Platner despite the tattoo issue.
With Mills still on the ballot, the primary remains a two-way contest. Her decision to clarify her status could reshape voter perceptions as they weigh the allegations against Platner. The race is one of several competitive Democratic primaries this cycle, and the outcome will determine who challenges the Republican incumbent in the general election.
