Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) doubled down on his endorsement of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner on Monday, brushing off questions about the progressive Democrat's reported sexting scandal as a private marital issue that should not overshadow the campaign's policy goals.
Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Sanders insisted that Platner's personal life is irrelevant to his fitness for office. “He’s prepared to take on the big-money interests. He believes that health care is a human right, not a privilege,” Sanders said. “Now, does he have problems in his marriage? Well, you’re going to have to ask his wife Amy. My understanding is that they’ve had problems in their marriage, they’re getting through that.”
The controversy erupted after media outlets reported that Platner had sent sexual messages to several women while married. Despite the revelations, Sanders made clear he is not reconsidering his support. The Vermont senator faced pointed questions about whether Platner’s “moral failings” could undermine broader progressive goals like health care reform and income inequality. Sanders appeared visibly irritated by the line of questioning.
“Moral failings – have you talked to his wife? Why don’t you find out by his marriage by talking – his wife has made a statement,” Sanders said, before cutting off the interview. “His wife is his family.”
Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, issued a statement to The New York Times and Wall Street Journal defending their marriage. “I know who Graham is. I know the man I married and the husband he has been to me on the best and the worst days of my life. That hasn’t changed, and it won’t,” she said.
The scandal has tested voter tolerance in the Maine Senate race, with some Democrats expressing concern about Platner’s conduct. Platner's sexting scandal tests voter tolerance in Maine Senate race, as polls show a tight contest against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) voiced concern over Platner’s conduct, while Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) has stood by him. Murphy stands by Platner in Maine Senate race despite sexting scandal. Meanwhile, Booker voices concern over Platner’s conduct in Maine Senate race, highlighting the divide among national Democrats.
Sanders, a key figure in the party’s progressive wing, has long championed candidates who challenge corporate power. His unwavering support for Platner signals that the scandal may not derail the campaign, but it adds a layer of complexity to a race already marked by controversy, including the revelation of a Nazi-linked tattoo on Platner’s body.
Platner is scheduled to meet with Senate Democrats on Tuesday, a critical step in securing broader party backing. The meeting comes as a new poll shows Platner surging ahead of Collins by 9 points, suggesting that the scandal has not yet eroded his electoral standing.
Sanders’ defense of Platner reflects his broader strategy of focusing on policy over personal failings. “I think what the people of this country and the people of Maine are interested in is how we’re going to have a government that represents all of us, addresses the many crises that we face, not the marriage problems of a candidate,” Sanders said.
