New allegations from a New York Times report have prompted concern among Democrats about Graham Platner, the leading candidate in Tuesday's primary for Maine's U.S. Senate seat. Platner denies claims of physical intimidation toward ex-girlfriends and prior knowledge that his tattoo resembled a Nazi symbol. The developments come days before the primary election.
The New York Times report published Thursday detailed accounts from former romantic partners of Platner, including Lyndsey Fifield. She described incidents of grabbing that left marks and an occasion when he allegedly twisted her arm, shoved her into a bedroom, and held the door closed until she became calm. Fifield also said Platner referred to the tattoo as his Totenkopf while they dated from 2013 to 2015. Platner denied the physical allegations and the claim about the tattoo during appearances on MSNBC and in interviews. He called the statements politically motivated and said he has not considered dropping out of the race. He is scheduled to hold a campaign rally Friday night in Bar Harbor with Rep. Ro Khanna. Some Democrats have voiced unease about Platner's viability against GOP Sen. Susan Collins in November. Others hope for a significant protest vote for Gov. Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign but remains on the ballot. A University of New Hampshire poll from late May showed Platner leading Mills 76 percent to 10 percent. Platner maintains strong support among many in the party who view the reports as attempts to undermine his candidacy. The Democratic primary is scheduled for Tuesday.
