Senate candidate Graham Platner's wife alleges he sent explicit texts to multiple women

Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine, reportedly exchanged sexual texts with several women after marrying his wife, Amy Gertner, two years ago. Platner's campaign confirmed these exchanges to Politico following a report from the Wall Street Journal, which stated that Gertner informed a campaign aide about the texts after Platner announced his candidacy. Gertner discovered the messages months after their marriage in 2024. She expressed her disappointment over the situation, stating that she confided personal details to someone she considered a friend, who then shared the information with others. Gertner emphasized that she and Platner have worked through their issues and that their marriage is stronger as a result. Platner, an oyster farmer and veteran, has faced previous controversies, including a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol and past comments on social media. Despite these controversies, a recent poll indicated that Platner holds a lead among likely voters in Maine. He is viewed as the presumptive Democratic nominee after Maine Governor Janet Mills withdrew from the race.