Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Sunday stood by Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, even as a fresh report detailed him sending explicit messages to women outside his marriage. Murphy acknowledged he had not closely tracked the sexting story but insisted Platner remains the strongest Democratic challenger to incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
“Graham Platner is somebody who served our country, he’s served his community; he’s also made mistakes and he’s admitted that,” Murphy said on CBS’s Face the Nation. The senator framed the race as a choice between Platner’s military service and Collins’ alignment with what he called a corrupt White House. “Character also involves standing up to people who are bankrupting and corrupting this country. And this race is going to be a contrast between somebody who has put his life on the line for this country, against somebody who is literally empowering the moral hollowing-out of our nation from the White House,” Murphy added.
Platner has led Collins in public polling, but the campaign has been roiled by multiple controversies. Reports have unearthed old Reddit posts with racist and sexist comments, and a tattoo Platner once had that resembled a Nazi Totenkopf. The disclosures have prompted some Democratic colleagues to distance themselves. Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) previously called the tattoo “personally disqualifying” and said he would back another candidate in the primary.
The Maine Democratic primary is set for June 9, with Platner running unopposed after Gov. Janet Mills (D) dropped out. Mills’ name will still appear on the ballot because of the timing of her suspension. Meanwhile, the controversy has echoed in other races; Rep. Seth Moulton has also backed Platner, arguing that his military record outweighs past errors.
Murphy’s defense signals a broader Democratic calculation: that Platner’s vulnerabilities may be less damaging than the risk of losing to Collins in a state that has trended Democratic. The party is keen to flip the seat as part of a larger push to hold the Senate. Yet the personal controversies have given Republicans ammunition to paint Platner as unfit, and some Democrats worry about the long-term impact on the party’s brand.
Platner has apologized for the Reddit posts and the tattoo, calling them youthful mistakes. But the sexting report, published over the weekend, has intensified scrutiny. Murphy’s comments suggest the party is prepared to weather the storm, focusing on Collins’ record on issues like healthcare and climate. The race is also unfolding against a backdrop of national debates; recent polling shows Pete Buttigieg leading early 2028 Democratic polls, indicating the party is already looking ahead.
For now, Platner’s path depends on whether Maine voters prioritize his biography over the accumulating controversies. Murphy’s endorsement may help shore up support among Democrats, but the primary is effectively decided. The general election will test whether the party’s gamble pays off.
