Platner to hold Maine rally with Khanna amid text message reports
12 reported1 unconfirmed
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner is scheduled to hold his first major campaign rally Friday evening in Bar Harbor, joined by progressive Rep. Ro Khanna of California, as reports continue about his past behavior. The event comes days before the June 9 primary election, where Platner is expected to secure the Democratic nomination after his top opponent, Gov. Janet Mills, suspended her campaign in late April. Last weekend, media reports surfaced that Platner exchanged sexually explicit text messages with several women while married. On Thursday, The New York Times reported on his relationships with previous girlfriends, with some describing him as volatile and insulting. One woman accused Platner of twisting her arm during an argument and locking her in a room, which Platner called untrue. Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, released a video calling the coverage “gossip” and saying “being married is hard.” Despite the controversies, prominent supporters including Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ruben Gallego continue to back Platner, who has pitched himself as an imperfect person who has redeemed himself.
What’s reported
Graham Platner is the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine.
He will hold a rally Friday evening in Bar Harbor with Rep. Ro Khanna.
The rally is a “get out the vote” event ahead of the June 9 primary.
Platner’s top opponent, Gov. Janet Mills, suspended her campaign in late April.
Reports surfaced that Platner exchanged sexually explicit text messages with several women while married.
The New York Times reported on his relationships with previous girlfriends; some described him as volatile and insulting.
One woman said Platner twisted her arm and locked her in a room; Platner called that allegation untrue.
Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, called the coverage “gossip” and said “being married is hard.”
Platner previously had a tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol, which he covered up; he said he didn’t realize its meaning.
A former girlfriend told the Times he joked about it being a Nazi symbol.
Platner has apologized for former Reddit posts dismissive of military sexual assaults and using homophobic slurs.
Supporters include Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ruben Gallego.
Open questions
Whether more controversial information about Platner could emerge ahead of the November election.
Key figures
Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine
Rep. Ro Khanna of California, progressive congressman
Amy Gertner, Platner’s wife
Gov. Janet Mills, Platner’s former opponent who suspended her campaign
Deb Dagnan, chair of Maine’s Piscataquis County Democrats
Genevieve McDonald, former campaign staffer for Platner
Joanne Mason, local Democratic leader from south-central Maine
Valerie Tate, Democrat from Belfast
Paige Zeigler, former Maine Democratic lawmaker and head of Waldo County Democrats
Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ruben Gallego, Platner supporters
Sources: abcnews.com
