Graham Platner was supposed to be Democrats’ best shot at toppling longtime Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins — and a key part of their path back to control of the Senate. But personal scandals have rocked the race.<\/p>\n
ABC News spoke with several voters in different parts of the state — highlighting the division among voters in Maine about Platner and his candidacy.<\/p>\n
Bangor resident Nancy Jacobson said the latest allegations reported in The New York Times “shake” her, but she sees no other option, adding that she expects more things to come out later about Platner.<\/p>\n
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<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>Bangor resident Nancy Jacobson told ABC News the latest allegations against Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner “shake” her, but she sees no other option.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n ABC News<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “What else are we going to do with this stage in the game?” Jacobson said. “I feel like his political mission is sincere, and that’s what I’m voting for.”<\/p>\n Over the past week, The New York Times published two separate reports, one with allegations Platner sent sexually explicit text messages to multiple women, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, and another with some former girlfriends alleging they found his behavior “intimidating and disturbing.”<\/p>\n Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks at a campaign event Friday, June 5, 2026, in Bar Harbor, Maine.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Robert F. Bukaty\/AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Platner has acknowledged he was “a far from perfect boyfriend,” but denied he was ever physically threatening or violent. His wife, Amy Gertner, is supporting her husband.<\/p>\n “No marriage is perfect and I don’t want a perfect marriage,” she said in a video statement following reports on the text messages. “I want my marriage and I want to be married to Graham.”<\/p>\n Maine state Reps. Allison Hepler, left, and Holly Eaton told ABC News that they will be voting for Gov. Janet Mills in Maine’s Democratic Senate primary, even though Mills suspended her campaign in April.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n ABC News<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Some Maine Democrats are also nervous that new allegations could harm Platner’s chances of beating Collins in November.<\/p>\n Maine state Reps. Allison Hepler and Holly Eaton told ABC News that they will be voting for Gov. Janet Mills in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, even though Mills suspended her campaign in April.<\/p>\n Eaton initially endorsed Platner but then withdrew her support, saying she would not vote for him in November, even with control of the Senate at stake.<\/p>\n “I actually endorsed Platner at one point,” Eaton said. However, she said she pulled her endorsement after controversial, yearsold online comments emerged, as well as allegations Platner had a tattoo on his chest associated with Nazism.<\/p>\n “That was not someone that I could support,” she said.<\/p>\n She added: “There’s a lot that can happen between now and November. And so I would be, honestly, I’ll tell you, I will never vote for Graham Platner.”<\/p>\n Platner has vehemently denied knowing about the tattoo’s Nazi link until this past October, some 18 years after he got it. He had it covered up that month.<\/p>\n Sarina Brooks, a lifelong Mainer and mental health therapist who identifies as a Democrat, said that she’s sticking with Platner for now.<\/p>\n Stickers for Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, are displayed at campaign event Friday, June 5, 2026, in Bar Harbor, Maine.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Robert F. Bukaty\/AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “At this point, I’m holding my support for him in place,” Brooks said. “I do always hold the right to change my mind at this point, but I still support him. I stand behind what he stands for. For me, I think that he is still our best option, but we will wait and see how things pan out.”<\/p>\n Other Democrats in Maine, including Christopher Mejo, are unbothered by the recent allegations, calling his decision to support Platner an “easy choice.”<\/p>\n “I’m not looking to be his friend. I’m looking for somebody who will represent my interests,” Mejo said.<\/p>\n Tyler Stoddard from Portland shared the sentiment, adding that he thinks there’s been too much focus on Platner’s personal life.<\/p>\n “I think that we’re really zooming in on all the personal matters in Graham Platner’s life that doesn’t actually affect his policies and what he stands for and what he could do for the state,” Stoddard said.<\/p>\n The New York Times article published Thursday was based on interviews with several women, who said they were previously involved with the Democratic Senate candidate and included allegations of toxic behavior that took an emotional toll.<\/p>\n Supporters cheer for Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, at a campaign event Friday, June 5, 2026, in Bar Harbor, Maine.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Robert F. Bukaty\/AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Some of the women interviewed for the article claimed that Platner could be demeaning to women and, in at least one case, even physically threatening. Others in the article called him a “gentle giant.”<\/p>\n Platner has said he struggled with undiagnosed PTSD and self-medicated with alcohol but denied physical roughness with his partners.<\/p>\n At a rally in Bar Harbor, Maine, on Friday night, Platner addressed the controversies that have unfolded during his campaign, insisting that he still had the support of the state’s voters.<\/p>\n “When hurtful things I said on the internet a decade ago came out into the public as I shared my personal journey through PTSD and darkness of recovery and accountability and growth, Maine had my back,” Platner said.<\/p>\n “Now, as every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated, and weaponized, you have my back,” he said.<\/p>\n Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, acknowledges applause at a campaign event Friday, June 5, 2026, in Bar Harbor, Maine.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Robert F. Bukaty\/AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The comments were met with loud applause and cheering from those in attendance.<\/p>\n Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, appeared with him at the rally and received a standing ovation from the audience.<\/p>\n According to reports published earlier this week by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal last week, Gertner alerted his campaign in 2025 about sexually explicit text messages her husband allegedly exchanged with multiple women.<\/p>\n “Amy and I went through something hard — because of me,” Platner said in a statement to the media earlier this week. “We did the work, and I’m grateful for her every hour of every day.”<\/p>\n Platner has drawn fire from some Democratic lawmakers and met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other senators on Capitol Hill this week aiming to shore up support and allay concerns of Democratic leadership.<\/p>\n But many Democrats are sticking with the embattled, likely nominee, including Rep. Ro Khanna, who headlined Platner’s Bar Harbor rally Friday.<\/p>\n “The Democratic Party, from Schumer to [Sen. Bernie] Sanders, is united with a single goal: we will defeat Susan Collins in November!” Khanna told a packed room of attendees.<\/p>\n In an interview with ABC News before the event, Khanna said he spoke to Platner about the latest allegations reported in the New York Times.<\/p>\n “I said that what he did was toxic and wrong. I talked to him about it. He agrees that it was misogynistic. He says it was a dark period of his life. He’s a veteran. He went to two tours of duty in Iraq, and he came back with a lot of trouble. Now, I’m not saying that excuses what he did — he accepted accountability — but I believe in redemption,” Khanna said.<\/p>\n Rep. Ro Khanna headlined a rally for Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner on Friday in Bar Harbor.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n ABC News<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The California progressive added that on policy, Platner is in line with the party.<\/p>\n “To me the big issues are, are you going to stand against the war in Iran? Are you going stand against billionaires and the wealth inequality? Are you gonna stand to bring down prices? Are you stand to defeat Susan Collins?” Khanna said. “That’s why I think the Democratic Party needs to unify behind Platner, who is going to be our nominee, and we’ve got to win this seat.”<\/p>\n “So you’re asking the people of Maine to essentially look past the personal issues and focus on policy?” ABC News asked.<\/p>\n “No, I think that they should look at those issues,” Khanna said. “But I believe they should give Graham Platner a chance to explain the period of his life that he was in and evaluate: Has he grown? Has he matured? Has there been a sense of redemption?”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"PHOTO:](\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/7926189c-e0f7-49af-b0d0-df7226ebf03c\/Election2026MaineSenate_1780795017173_hpMain.jpg?w=375)
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<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>Some Maine Democrats say they won’t vote for Platner<\/h3>\n
Some voters say too much focus on Platner’s personal life<\/h3>\n
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<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>Platner rallies supporters: ‘You have my back’<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>Progressive congressman makes case for Platner<\/h3>\n
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