Graham Platner to hold Maine rally with Rep. Ro Khanna as scandals shake up campaign

By — Patrick Whittle, Associated Press Patrick Whittle, Associated Press By — Kimberlee Kruesi, Associated Press Kimberlee Kruesi, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/graham-platner-to-hold-maine-rally-with-rep-ro-khanna-as-scandals-shake-up-campaign Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Graham Platner to hold Maine rally with Rep. Ro Khanna as scandals shake up campaign Politics Jun 5, 2026 12:13 PM EDT PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Graham Platner, the insurgent Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, will hold his first major campaign rally on Friday night as reports continue emerging about his history with women. Last weekend, his campaign wrestled with stories about sexually explicit messages that Platner sent to several women while he was married. Then on Thursday, The New York Times reported about his relationships with previous girlfriends. Some viewed him positively but others described him as volatile and insulting. READ MORE: Amid controversial Senate campaigns, Paxton and Platner visit Washington to shore up support One woman said Platner twisted her arm during an argument and locked her in a room. Platner called that allegation untrue. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. But with Maine's primary around the corner Tuesday and Democrats desperate to rally behind a candidate who can defeat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November, there's been little sign of voters or political allies backing away from Platner, who has pitched himself as an imperfect person who has redeemed himself. READ MORE: Platner's wife calls reports about Senate candidate's explicit texts with women 'shameful' Some dismissed news of the text messages as a private matter, one that should be addressed solely by the married couple. Others argue that the need for Democrats to take back control of the U.S. Senate from Republicans is too important to cast aside imperfect candidates. Yet they're also wrestling with the question of whether more controversial information surrounding Platner could come out ahead of the November election. "I think a lot of people are afraid," said Deb Dagnan, chair of Maine's Piscataquis County Democrats. "They're waiting for the other shoe to drop after he gets the nomination. Then what do we do?" Key to the Senate Platner is key to Democrats hopes' to take back the U.S. Senate this year. Yet he's been bedeviled by near-constant controversies involving his disclosure of a since-covered tattoo of a Nazi symbol, his history of inflammatory online comments and the texting revelations. Nevertheless, Platner's most prominent supporters have continued to back the candidate, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Ruben Gallego. Platner is scheduled to appear in Bar Harbor Friday evening with progressive Rep. Ro Khanna of California, as well as Democratic ca