Graham Platner is the presumptive Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate race in Maine ahead of the June 9 primary, where he is set to challenge Republican incumbent Susan Collins [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12].
Platner, 41, faces multiple controversies including the leak of sexually explicit texts he sent to other women while married. The explicit messages became public after his wife, Amy Gertner, who married him in 2023, discovered them in 2025 and informed campaign staff [1, 4, 5, 12]. Gertner expressed hurt over the revelations, calling media coverage gossip and shameful. "I confided deeply personal details about my marriage to someone I considered a friend," she said [1, 4, 5, 12].
Additional serious allegations surfaced on June 4 when The New York Times reported several former partners accused Platner of disturbing and toxic behavior. Charges include physical intimidation such as grabbing a woman by the shoulders, twisting her arm, locking her in a room, and making crude comments about rape. One accuser said Platner remarked, "He was like, I would rape them to show them that I’m dominant" [2, 8, 9, 10, 11]. Platner strongly denies the most serious claims, calling them politically motivated. "There are some allegations in this piece that I just want to be kind of unequivocal about, are simply not true," he said [10].
Platner admits to past struggles with PTSD and self-medication. He also regrets controversial online posts and a now-removed tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol. He said he was unaware of the tattoo's meaning at the time [1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12]. However, some reports question his knowledge of the symbol's significance [2].
Despite the controversies, Platner maintains support from progressive leaders such as Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ruben Gallego. Sanders said, "I think it might be a good idea if we focused on the important issues facing the working families of Maine and this country" [3, 6, 8, 11]. Governor Janet Mills suspended her own campaign in April but remains on the ballot [1, 6, 7].
Platner's betting odds have recently declined to 54% against Collins' 46%, but he remains the Democratic frontrunner [7, 8, 9]. On June 5, Platner held a rally addressing the allegations, describing his past as being weaponized and seeking support [3, 10, 11].
The primary vote is scheduled for June 9, less than a week away, as Platner pushes to secure the Democratic nomination amid intensified scrutiny [1, 3, 7, 12].
