Graham Platner isn't going anywhere in Maine Senate race after latest controversy

Graham Platner, the likely Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine, faces several controversies just days before the primary election. He is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. Democrats hope to win this seat to gain Senate control. However, recent reports from The New York Times have raised questions about his suitability for the role. Former romantic partners described Platner's behavior as "toxic" and disrespectful towards women, leading some to wonder if his campaign is in trouble.

Platner has denied these allegations, claiming they are attempts to distract voters from important issues like healthcare and taxation. He also confirmed that the National Democratic Party has not asked him to withdraw from the race. Besides the New York Times article, other past issues have emerged. These include a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which Platner states he got unknowingly while intoxicated in 2007. Additionally, old online comments that were racist or blamed sexual assault victims resurfaced, along with reports from the Wall Street Journal about sexually explicit messages exchanged with multiple women early in his campaign, despite being married. His wife, Amy Gertner, has publicly defended him and their marriage.

One former partner, Lyndsey Fifield, recounted an incident where Platner allegedly locked her in a room until she became "calm." Platner disputes this, stating they only had a "casual relationship" and the claims are untrue. He believes these intense personal attacks indicate his campaign is seen as a significant threat. Platner also shared his struggles with undiagnosed PTSD and depression after his military deployments, admitting to heavy drinking during what he calls "the darkest time of my life" before he started receiving therapy in 2017. He anticipated a thorough scrutiny of his past but not to this extent, viewing the opposition as a sign of his campaign's strength.