By The Daily Caller (Opinion) | Created at 2026-06-05 18:41:38 | Updated at 2026-06-06 15:34:19
22 hours ago
Graham Platner, the Maine Democratic Senate hopeful, has so many skeletons in the closet that everyone’s beginning to lose count.
Whether it’s the Nazi tattoo, his long history of Reddit posting, or his recently surfaced sexting scandal, Platner cannot shake off his past. The latest scandal, which insiders knew was coming and broke Thursday in The New York Times, involved allegations from Platner’s ex-girlfriends, their “toxic” relationships with him, and one allegation that he physically harmed a woman.
Before the news broke, many liberals were showing signs that they have had enough of Platner, while some are digging in their heels for the long run. But this latest scandal might trigger an even bigger divide between the more moderate in the party, who wanted to see Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills as the nominee, and Team Platner.
“Democrats are at each other’s throats,” Politico reported late Thursday night, “and they don’t know what to do about it.”
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 02: Demonstrators protest outside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner meets with Senators, on June 02, 2026 in Washington, DC. Platner is meeting with Democratic Senators after allegations surfaced that he sent sexually explicit text messages to multiple women. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“It’s very clear that Platner has not been able to credibly justify his conduct and Democrats who defend him sound like Republicans defending Donald Trump after the Access Hollywood tape,” Robert Zimmerman, a New York-based Democratic National Committee member, told Politico.
Left-wing activist Cheyenne Hunt, leader of the group Gen Z for Change, backtracked on her endorsement of Platner on Thursday, saying the scandal put the party in a “horrible position” and that it was Platner’s fault. Hunt and her group had previously organized against Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell over sexual assault allegations.
“Women are never an acceptable sacrifice for an election. Our character is defined by the decisions we make when things are hard, but the right side of history here is clear. This behavior is inexcusable,” she said.
Women are never an acceptable sacrifice for an election. Our character is defined by the decisions we make when things are hard, but the right side of history here is clear. This behavior is inexcusable. pic.twitter.com/92K6xGem4p
— Reckoning Action (@reckoningaction) June 4, 2026
While Politico reported that some Democratic donors are growing skittish, a Democratic consultant told the outlet that others don’t give a rat’s tush about any of Platner’s scandals.
“We don’t care,” the consultant said. “I think that’s the case for many donors. Anybody who beats Susan Collins will do.”
The source also suggested that in the Trump era, everyone is more jaded, and so political scandals no longer pack the same punch.
Even though it should be the end of his campaign, this is likely the attitude that will win out among Democrats: stick with Platner, no holds barred. And just because they go with Platner, that does not mean there will be more howling and attacks from more centrist Democrats over the next several days, weeks and months.
