Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner pushed back Wednesday against a growing list of controversies that have shadowed his primary victory, insisting the allegations are overblown and designed to sidetrack voters from real issues.
“There’s nothing out there that’s actually concerning,” Platner said on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe,” just one day after he won the Democratic primary to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. “People will make everything seem very concerning, because that’s what people do in politics.”
The Army veteran and oyster farmer argued the focus on his past behavior is a deliberate tactic to avoid discussing the struggles of working-class Mainers. But the candidate has faced a series of damaging revelations, including a chest tattoo he initially said he didn’t realize resembled a Nazi insignia, and now-deleted Reddit posts about sexual assault and Black people. Platner has apologized for those posts, attributing them to PTSD from his military deployments.
While those issues had been known for months, a fresh sexting scandal and accounts from former romantic partners have reignited scrutiny. The New York Times reported last week that three women described Platner’s behavior in past relationships as “toxic” and “unsettling.” Platner has denied any physical intimidation or altercations.
Pressed by host Mika Brzezinski about whether voters can trust him to champion women’s issues—such as releasing files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—Platner drew a sharp distinction. “Yes, of course, I mean, I engaged in consensual romantic activities with adults at an earlier part of my life,” he said. “That seems like a fairly normal thing most people do. Going to an island with billionaires to possibly assault children is a vastly, vastly different thing.”
Platner’s primary win has exposed divisions within the Democratic Party. Senator Bernie Sanders has backed him, appearing alongside him at rallies in Maine. But Democratic leaders in Congress have been more cautious. The Senate Majority PAC, aligned with Democratic leadership, issued a statement Tuesday night that focused on policy differences with Collins rather than endorsing Platner personally. Spokesperson Lauren French said, “The difference between the two couldn’t be plainer: Platner’s agenda supports working people and families, while Collins upholds Washington’s status quo.”
President Trump weighed in Wednesday, calling Platner “a thug” and “a low-level thug” during a White House signing ceremony. The attack mirrors the broader GOP strategy to paint the Democrat as unfit for office.
Platner now faces Collins in the November midterm election, a race that could help determine control of the Senate. The controversies are likely to remain a central issue, with both parties using them to rally their bases. For more on the primary results, see our coverage of Platner's victory and the broader Maine election landscape.
