Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner besieged by abuse allegations

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, the presumptive nominee in Maine's race against incumbent Republican Susan Collins, is confronting a wave of accusations. A New York Times report cited former partners describing Platner’s behavior as "toxic" and alleging physical violence, while additional reports highlighted racist Reddit comments, a Nazi‑style tattoo he obtained while drinking in 2007, and sexually explicit messages sent to multiple women in early 2025. Platner has denied the claims, calling them false and emphasizing that no national Democratic leaders have asked him to withdraw. His wife, Amy Gertner, has defended the marriage, and Platner has framed the media scrutiny as a sign of a threatened campaign. Meanwhile, far‑left activist Cheyenne Hunt announced on CNN that she is withdrawing her endorsement, citing the allegations as disqualifying. Despite the controversy, Platner says he will stay in the race, arguing that the scrutiny reflects the stakes of the contest for control of the Senate.

The battle in Maine is seen as a key Democratic target for flipping a Republican seat, raising the stakes of the allegations for both the candidate and the party’s national strategy.