Graham Platner’s Campaign Faces Scrutiny Amid Reports

Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner is under renewed scrutiny following revelations about his personal life. The Wall Street Journal reported that his wife, Amy Gertner, notified campaign officials that Platner sent sexually explicit texts to multiple women shortly after their marriage in November 2023. This information emerges just over a week before the June 9 primary. Platner, a Marine Corps veteran and oyster farmer, is running against Republican Senator Susan Collins in a race that could affect Senate control.

“I know who Graham is,” Gertner told the Wall Street Journal. “I know the man I married and the husband he has been to me on the best and the worst days of my life. That hasn’t changed, and it won’t.” She expressed that she was “deeply hurt” by the betrayal and the “invasion of our privacy” by a former trusted staff member. Newsweek reached out to Platner’s campaign for comment on Saturday evening.

Why It Matters

Maine is a politically competitive state leaning Democratic in recent elections, with Kamala Harris winning by about 7 points in 2024 against Donald Trump. However, the state also supports moderate Republicans like Collins, who has maintained her Senate seat since 1997, and independents like Angus King. The Cook Political Report labels the race as a “toss-up.”

National Democrats see flipping Collins’ seat as a prime opportunity to win back the Senate majority in this year’s midterm election. Platner is viewed as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination after Governor Janet Mills dropped out, although David Costello is also on the primary ballot. With support from Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Platner is seen as a leading contender for Democrats aiming to regain Senate control.

Platner’s campaign has encountered controversies, including past Reddit posts with offensive content and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol. Platner apologized for his online remarks and the tattoo, explaining he was unaware of its meaning when acquired during his Marine service in Croatia. He attributed past behavior to struggles with PTSD post-discharge.

What to Know

According to reports, Gertner disclosed Platner’s explicit messages to campaign aides during an internal vetting in August the previous year. This was intended to prevent surprises during the campaign. A campaign aide mentioned the issue was considered a personal matter between Gertner and Platner, who were in marriage counseling then.

“It is no secret that Graham and I have struggled on our fertility journey. We did the hard work that marriage requires. We went to counseling. We were honest with each other in ways that weren’t easy,” Gertner stated, revealing that the couple sought IVF treatment and suffered a miscarriage earlier this year. She claimed their “marriage today is stronger than ever before.”

Genevieve McDonald, Platner’s former political director, mentioned to The New York Times that Gertner informed officials of explicit messages to up to a dozen women. A current campaign official said that communication involved up to six women and stopped before campaigning began.

McDonald, who resigned over the tattoo and Reddit post revelations, commented to The Times, “The United States Senate is not a training ground for redemption. It is a place for proven leaders with moral clarity and integrity.” Gertner, in her statement, expressed she shared deeply personal marital details with someone she considered a friend.

Neither report specifies the message details.

What Do Polls Show?

A Pine Tree State Poll by the University of New Hampshire from May 21-25 showed Platner leading, with 51% support against Collins’ 42%. Around 6% were undecided, and 2% supported another candidate. This poll reflects a narrowed share of undecided voters compared to February. An earlier poll showed Platner leading Collins 49% to 38%, with 9% undecided and 4% backing another.

In the new poll, independents are split, with 47% backing Collins and 44% supporting Platner. The poll, conducted with 1,397 residents, has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 points.

A Pan Atlantic Research poll indicated Platner with a 7-point advantage over Collins, with 48% support compared to Collins’ 41%, leaving 11% undecided. Conducted from May 8-18, it surveyed 827 likely voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 points.

A Maine People’s Resource Center survey from March 20-31 also showed Platner ahead of Collins by 9 points, 48% to 39%. A March Emerson College poll indicated Platner leading by 7 points, 48% to 41%, surveying 1,075 likely voters from March 21-23, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 points.