Graham Platner may be the presumptive Democratic nominee to take on Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in November, but Senate Democrats are keeping the progressive insurgent at arm’s length amid a new extramarital sexting scandal.
Platner, who has already weathered scrutiny over past racist and sexist Reddit posts and for having a tattoo of a Nazi symbol, is now embroiled in a controversy involving alleged sexual messages texted to women other than his wife. Yet, few of Platner’s potential colleagues within the Senate Democratic Caucus are coming to his defense amid the new revelations.
“I’ve been very busy in New Jersey with this crisis I’m having right now,” said Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ), referencing a hunger strike at an immigration detention facility in his home state.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) said she has not “been following the ins and outs” and will “work with whoever the state of Maine elects.” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), a former vice presidential nominee, said he is simply “staying out of it.”
“If you want to ask me about it, you can ask me after the dust has settled from the primary next week,” Kaine said, noting there are also lesser-known Democratic candidates on the ballot.
Sen. Angus King (I-ME), an independent who caucuses with Democrats, does not “get involved in any campaigns involving a sitting colleague.” King, who works with Collins as part of the Maine delegation, would be in a similar position were Platner to win in November.
Platner has downplayed the controversy, in which he sent sexual texts to women other than his wife after they married in 2023. The issue came to attention after a former campaign aide disclosed that Platner’s wife had flagged the sexual messages last year over concerns they could damage his Senate bid.
Platner has accused the media of trying to distract voters from key policy issues by reporting on the existence of the sexual messages. It’s a messaging tactic that his more outspoken defenders in the Senate also embraced.
“This country faces enormous crises,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), one of Platner’s earliest supporters, citing healthcare, housing, and affordability. “I think it’s important for us to focus on the issues facing working families a little bit more than Graham Plattner’s marriage. And my understanding is that his wife … is standing by her husband, and I wish their marriage the very best.”
Platner’s personal baggage draws similarities to that of the challenges Republicans face in Texas with state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who ousted Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in a primary runoff. An extramarital affair by Paxton contributed to the divorce with his wife and was a subject of criticism from national Republicans who supported Cornyn in the primary but have since been forced to rally around their nominee as he faces Democrat James Talarico in the general election.
“Ken Paxton’s actually corrupt as s***,” Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) told the Washington Examiner, referring to past criminal indictments and a state impeachment trial. Paxton was not convicted in either instance.
“At the end of the day, personal this and that, Ken’s not focusing on the cost of living right now. Ken’s not focusing on how expensive it is to buy food, rent an apartment, get a car. Platner is,” Gallego continued. “Maybe they have these issues that everyone can talk about. But at the end of the day, Ken’s not actually dealing with the everyday things that actually people care about. It’s actually survival.”
JANET MILLS HINTS AT RESURRECTING MAINE SENATE BID AMID GRAHAM PLATNER SCANDALS
Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) suggested she could restart her Maine Senate campaign after suspending it in April against Platner, telling a local outlet over the weekend that she “simply suspended active campaigning. I am still on the ballot.” Platner will meet with Senate Democrats in Washington on Tuesday, one week before his June 9 primary.
