Graham Platner's Scandals Grip Maine Senate Primary

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner in Maine is confronting multiple allegations days before the June 9 primary. Former girlfriends have accused him of physical abuse, including an incident where he allegedly twisted a woman's arm and locked her in a bedroom. He also faces scrutiny for a chest tattoo identified as a Nazi Totenkopf symbol and for sending sexually explicit messages to several women while married. Platner denies the physical‑abuse claims and says the tattoo was unknown to him at the time.

The New York Times report sparked a wave of responses within the Democratic Party. Some officials, such as Sen. Brian Schatz and Rep. Ro Khanna, have publicly backed Platner and helped raise money—his campaign reported a $200,000 surge after the story. Others, including Rep. Madeleine Dean and Sen. John Fetterman, have called the candidate “disqualified” or demanded he quit. Despite the controversy, Platner held a rally in Bar Harbor with Khanna and other state candidates, reiterating that he will not drop out.

The primary will decide the Democratic challenger to long‑incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, a seat Republicans currently hold. With the Senate balance of power at stake, the outcome of the Maine race could affect national control of the chamber.