Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner met with Democratic senators in Washington on Tuesday as party leaders privately and publicly assessed a string of controversies surrounding his personal conduct and past online activity. The gathering took place at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s headquarters, where senators questioned Platner about his background and the risk of further damaging disclosures ahead of Maine’s Democratic primary.
Graham Platner, the leading Democratic contender in Maine’s U.S. Senate race, traveled to Washington on Tuesday for meetings aimed at calming concerns among party leaders as he faces renewed scrutiny over personal and political controversies. According to the Associated Press, Platner stopped by Democrats’ Senate campaign headquarters to meet with several senators, including Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also said he met with Platner earlier in the day, but largely avoided addressing reporters’ questions about the candidate’s personal issues, repeating that Democrats intend to defeat Sen. Susan Collins in November. The meeting came after reports that Platner and his wife have faced marital difficulties and sought counseling amid allegations that Platner sent sexually explicit text messages to other women after the couple married in 2023. Platner and his wife have described the matter as private, while Platner has disputed aspects of the reporting. Platner has also faced questions about now-deleted social media posts that, according to reporting by The Washington Post, included dismissive remarks about sexual assault and other inflammatory language. The Post also reported that Platner previously covered up a chest tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol, saying he did not understand the symbol’s meaning when he got it. Not all Democrats appeared fully reassured after Tuesday’s discussion. Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont offered a cautious response as he left the gathering, telling reporters that the decision ultimately rests with Maine voters. Some Democrats have warned privately that additional revelations could still emerge, while others have argued that the race will turn on issues and whether Democrats can unseat Collins, a Republican who has held the seat for decades.
