Graham Platner, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, is facing scrutiny regarding his past as he prepares to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins in November. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, informed a campaign aide shortly after his Senate campaign launch in August about sexually explicit texts she found on his phone with several women. Gertner reportedly flagged this as a potential risk to Platner's candidacy. The campaign team decided to treat the matter as private and continued with a planned rally featuring Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an early supporter of Platner.
In a statement, Gertner expressed her frustration over the situation, stating that she confided in someone she considered a friend, who then allegedly spread gossip about her marriage. She emphasized that she and Platner have worked through their issues and have strengthened their marriage through counseling. Gertner stated, "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."
The New York Times later confirmed the Journal's report, noting that Gertner had shared these details with Genevieve McDonald, a Democratic state lawmaker and former aide to Platner. Reports indicated that Platner had sent explicit texts to as many as a dozen women, though a Platner official stated the number was up to six.
Since entering the Senate race, Platner has faced various controversies, including past social media posts and a tattoo of a Nazi symbol. Despite these issues, he has emerged as the presumptive Democratic nominee after Governor Janet Mills suspended her campaign last month. Polls indicate that Platner has a competitive chance against Collins in the upcoming election, although he carries significant scrutiny due to his past. Republican groups have intensified efforts to highlight negative stories about Platner as the election approaches.
