Democrat Senate Candidate Platner Hit With New Scandal

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing another political headache after a new report raised questions about sexually explicit text messages he allegedly exchanged with multiple women before entering the Senate race.

According to a Saturday report from The Wall Street Journal, Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, allegedly informed a campaign aide during the summer of 2025 that she had discovered the messages earlier that year.

The revelation reportedly came as Platner’s campaign team was conducting opposition research to identify potential political liabilities before he formally launched his bid for the U.S. Senate.

A campaign official told the Journal that the aide ultimately viewed the matter as a private marital issue between Platner and his wife. The aide also reportedly believed the couple was working through the situation in marriage counseling.

Gertner defended Platner and their marriage in a statement released through the campaign.

“We did the hard work that marriage requires,” she said.

“We went to counseling. We were honest with each other in ways that weren’t easy,” Gertner continued.

“And we came through it, not in spite of how much we’ve been through, but because of how much we love each other and the life we’ve built. Our marriage today is stronger than ever before,” she added.

Gertner also made clear that she continues to stand by her husband.

“I know who Graham is. 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 said.

The report adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding Platner’s campaign, which has already been under pressure over past remarks he made on a now-deleted Reddit account.

Those posts resurfaced earlier this year and quickly became a major liability for the Democratic candidate.

One of the most criticized comments came from a 2013 post in which Platner wrote: “How about people just take some responsibility for themselves and not get so f——- up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to?”

Other resurfaced comments also drew sharp backlash, including remarks involving military veterans, police officers and race.

According to reports, Platner mocked a Purple Heart recipient, calling the wounded veteran a “dumb motherf——-” who “didn’t deserve to live.”

He also reportedly referred to police officers as “bastards,” agreed with comments describing some rural Mainers as “racist and stupid,” and questioned tipping habits among Black Americans.

Platner has since apologized publicly for the remarks.

He has blamed the comments on a difficult period in his life after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying they reflected struggles with mental health, isolation and the impact of exposure to violence during combat deployments.

Platner has described the posts as “stupid joke comments” and admitted they were inappropriate.

Still, the controversy has followed him throughout the Democratic primary, giving his political opponents more ammunition and raising concerns about whether he can survive a general election campaign in a state where Republicans are already defending an important Senate seat.

The fallout intensified during the Democratic primary season. Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who had also been running for the nomination, suspended her campaign ahead of the June 9 primary election, leaving Platner and businessman David Costello as the remaining major contenders.

Costello previously challenged Republican Sen. Susan Collins two years ago.

The latest report about the alleged text messages is likely to deepen questions about what Platner’s campaign knew, when it knew it and whether his team fully vetted the issue before he became a serious contender for the nomination.

Neither Platner nor his campaign has suggested that the report will change his plans, according to The Washington Times.

The Democratic nominee will face a difficult general election fight against Collins, a five-term Republican senator and one of the most recognizable political figures in Maine.

For Republicans, Platner’s growing list of controversies could strengthen Collins’ position and help protect a critical Senate seat as President Donald Trump works to advance his second-term agenda.

At a time when voters are looking for stability, accountability and serious leadership, the repeated scandals surrounding Platner may give Maine voters even more reason to question whether Democrats have chosen the wrong messenger