Maine Senate Primary: Scandal-Hit Platner Faces Voter Choice as Rivals Stay on Ballot
7 verified4 unconfirmed
Maine’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary on June 9 has become a focus of national attention as frontrunner Graham Platner faces a series of controversies that have prompted renewed calls for voters to consider other candidates. Platner, a democratic socialist, has remained the heavy favorite despite reports about a Nazi-linked chest tattoo he has since covered, resurfaced Reddit posts containing offensive comments, and a sexting scandal involving an active Kik messaging profile. Former primary rival Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign earlier this year, confirmed she remains on the ballot and is urging Democrats not to assume Platner has already won. Another candidate, David Costello, is also still on the ballot. Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, has criticized the disclosure of private details about their marriage and defended him publicly. Republicans have capitalized on the controversies, staging protests outside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee headquarters to highlight Platner’s profile on the anonymous messaging app. No evidence has been found that Platner communicated with minors on Kik, and he has apologized for past online remarks while disputing portions of the sexting reports.
What’s verified
Graham Platner is the frontrunner in Maine’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary set for June 9, 2026.
Platner has faced multiple controversies, including a “Totenkopf” chest tattoo associated with Nazi concentration camp guards, which he has since covered.
Resurfaced Reddit posts include comments that mocked a Purple Heart recipient, blamed rape victims, and pushed racial stereotypes.
Reports indicate Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with women and maintained an active Kik messaging profile with a shirtless photo.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspended her Senate campaign but remains on the primary ballot as a candidate; David Costello is also on the ballot.
Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, has criticized the disclosure of private details about their marriage and defended her husband.
Republicans have held protests outside the DSCC, with staffers wearing towels to mock Platner’s Kik profile photo.
Not yet confirmed
The full extent of Platner’s past online comments remains undisclosed; a single report indicates he called a former candidate a “dumb motherf—-r” for being wounded in a Taliban attack.
Whether additional controversies will emerge before the primary is unknown, as Platner has previously stated he had no other “skeletons” in his past.
The specific number of women Platner exchanged messages with is disputed: one former staffer said up to a dozen, while a current campaign official said up to six.
Platner’s denial on Sunday that the sexting stories were true, while his campaign had already acknowledged the messages, leaves the accuracy of his statements unclear.
Misconceptions
Multiple sources confirm that no evidence has been found that Platner communicated with minors on Kik, despite the app’s reputation and Republican demonstrators’ signs.
The primary has not yet been held; sources emphasize that voters have not chosen a nominee and ranked-choice voting allows support for alternative candidates.
Key figures
Graham Platner: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Maine
Janet Mills: Maine Governor, former Senate candidate
David Costello: Democratic primary candidate
Susan Collins: Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator from Maine
Amy Gertner: Wife of Graham Platner
Bernie Sanders: Independent U.S. Senator from Vermont (single-source mention)
Ken Paxton: Texas Attorney General (single-source mention)
Matt Stoller: Populist commentator (single-source mention)
Genevieve McDonald: Former Platner campaign staffer (single-source mention)
Sources: foxnews.com, realclearpolitics.com, washingtonmonthly.com
