Several Democratic senators did not confirm their support for Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner amid allegations involving leaked explicit sexual messages. The controversy includes sexually explicit text exchanges that surfaced while Platner was married. He also has an active profile on Kik, a messaging app often associated with casual encounters. Platner's campaign acknowledged the Kik account belonged to him but stated he deleted the app from his phone.
Senator Ed Markey expressed his support for Platner, citing his opposition to former President Donald Trump. Markey stated, "We have in Maine, a candidate, that is Platner, who wants to stop Trump’s authoritarian destruction of our democracy." Other Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have continued to support Platner, emphasizing the importance of flipping the Republican-held Senate seat in Maine.
However, some senators, like Jeanne Shaheen, suggested that the decision should be left to Maine voters, stating, "I don’t think inappropriate sexual behavior should be approved by anybody who does it, but the voters of Maine will have to decide that." Others, like Senators Chris Coons and Brian Schatz, declined to comment on their support for Platner. The primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, leaving voters with limited time to consider the implications of the controversy on the race.
