Graham Platner's wife alleges he sent explicit texts during their marriage

Amy Gertner, the wife of Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, informed his campaign that he exchanged sexually explicit text messages with multiple women early in their marriage. This information was reported by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Gertner expressed her concerns about the potential political implications of these messages during the campaign's vetting process. In a statement, she described feeling 'deeply hurt' by the invasion of their privacy and emphasized the strength of their marriage, stating that they have worked through challenges together. Platner's campaign confirmed that he had deleted the Kik messaging app from his phone but had not deactivated his account. Gertner also released a video statement defending her husband and criticizing those spreading negative stories about him. Platner's campaign has faced scrutiny due to several controversies, including past social media posts and a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol, which he later covered up. He has acknowledged his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and stated that many of his past comments were made during difficult times. These controversies could impact the Democratic Party's efforts to unseat incumbent Senator Susan Collins in the upcoming elections.