Several Women Who Dated Graham Platner Recall 'Unsettling' Behavior

[Polybius]

Source: NY Times

On Tuesday evening, after a whirlwind day in Washington, Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine, rushed home.

Rumors were spreading from Portland to the Potomac about Mr. Platner’s messy personal life, after news reports that he had sent sexual messages to women while married. Democratic senators were pressing him about whether more damaging revelations were coming. Journalists were swarming, staking out his hometown.

Amid the turmoil, Mr. Platner worked the phones, rolling through calls to ex-girlfriends who might publicly acknowledge that while he may have been a bad boyfriend, he was, in fact, a decent guy.

In interviews with The New York Times on Wednesday, several women did just that, describing Mr. Platner as a fun and caring partner, and saying they felt safe with him. Some remain friends with him to this day, years after their relationships ended.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/politics/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html

[groundloop]

1. What about the guy who cheated on his pregnant wife with a porn star, then paid for her silence?????

[RandySF]

3. Is that the bar?

[PatSeg]

7. Exactly

I find the comparison rather disturbing. Obviously no one is perfect, but many of the allegations are unsettling.

I am surprised that his campaign didn't do any oppo research early on, as they didn't appear to be prepared for so many of the accusations. Granted I know much of them could be fabricated by republican operatives.

Obviously, I hope we win the seat and if it is Platner, I hope he lives up to his promises.

[paleotn]

12. Or is Susan Collins the bar? You want 6 more years of her?

That's the choice Mainers have. Our approval is unnecessary.

[SamuelAdams]

34. Not true.

The choice Mainers have is Janet Mills, David Costello, or Graham Platner.

[Skittles]

18. THANK YOU

JFC

[RandySF]

2. David Costello (D)

David, whose family was not well-off and who, like many in Maine, began work early and worked his way through the University of Maine, George Washington University, and the London School of Economics. And who served for more than 30 years in senior-level government and non-government positions, both in the United States, including in Maine, and abroad – implementing and managing; not simply legislating or talking about complex multi-million-dollar programs and operations.
​
Programs and operations that included working closely with U.S. Army, the United Nations, and foreign aid organizations overseas – and various state and local government agencies, businesses, and non-governmental organizations in Maine, Maryland, and elsewhere.

Programs and operations that resulted in: elections, campaign finance, and motor vehicle safety reforms in Maine; improved public schools and expanded assistance to children, youth and families at risk in Baltimore; the implementation of ambitious job creation, education, healthcare, crime eduction, and environmental protection programs in Maryland; and the completion of more than 4,000 peace and community building projects in conflict-torn Cambodia, Haiti, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, and Serbia.
​
The contrasts between Senator Collins’s and David’s backgrounds and public service records couldn’t be starker, and the decision regarding whom to support in 2026 should be an easy one.



https://www.costelloforsenate.com/

[yorkster]

5. X1000

[duckworth969]

6. Maine voters decide not DU pundits

[RandySF]

10. Where did I tell anyone how to vote?

Bernie and Hasan can go to Maine but I can’t mention another Democratic candidate?

[paleotn]

13. Above.

[RandySF]

14. I was informing

But I have as much right to advocate as anyone who travels to another state to endorse.

[paleotn]

15. What you're advocating is 6 more years of Susan Collins. You just don't know it.

[SSJVegeta]

31. How

Its a primary. If Costello wins the primary he is the nominee in a blue state. That doesnt make any sense to say Collins automatically wins.

Costello's issue isnt that he cannot beat Collins. Its that he probably wont be the nominee. But if our democracy were more democratic, he would have just as much a chance to spread his message as any other candidate. And probably be the nominee by now if he doesn't have nearly the baggage as Platner.

[Skittles]

20. yup

I too do not care much for advocating for a creep.

[Skittles]

19. this is a POLITICAL BOARD

we can have an OPINION on ALL POLITICIANS

[chernabogg]

40. Uh no

Not according to the DU rules.

[niyad]

25. And then that person gets to vote on decisions that affect all of us.

[PatSeg]

9. I don't understand it

For what we know of him, Costello sounds like an ideal candidate.

[questionseverything]

30. No info on his stance on wars of choice by Israel

We are on the edge of ww3 and he doesn’t have an opinion?

[SSJVegeta]

32. K/R

[bluedigger]

4. Many of us are in trouble if we accept the testimony of exes in the court of public opinion.

You guys married to your high school sweetheart for five decades can just STFU.

[dave99]

8. Republican agents pulling out ALL the stops

[oldmanlynn]

16. That's exactly what it

And I hope that Democrats don’t fall for it and decide to try to get him to leave the race in the circular firing squad. people in Maine appreciate him

[doc03]

11. He didn't know it was Nazi tatoo, I don't

believe it. That is the best we have?

[NNguyenMD]

17. This is middle school Mickey Mouse shit

Democracy is under threat and people are talking about ex girlfriends

[niyad]

26. Wow, so his attitudes and behaviours toward women are "mickey

mouse shit"? His rape apologist posts are "mickey mouse shit"? Good to know where women stand.

[Irish_Dem]

28. Yes the attitude could not be more clear.

[NNguyenMD]

35. I got it, because he didn't have picture perfect views...

At that point of time in his life, we should cede the election to the GOP and stay out of power while Democracy goes through the shedder.

[niyad]

36. Thank you for the confirmation.

[NNguyenMD]

37. Priorities right

[niyad]

38. Thank you for confirming that women are NOT a priority. Good to know.

[Irish_Dem]

29. This is the point we are making.

We are facing the loss of our democracy.

WE NEED TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.
WE NEED TO WANT TO WIN.

[delisen]

22. What do I know, I am just a hatchet wound.....

Always great to learn a new synonym for women…..well maybe not so great….

[niyad]

27. Exactly!

[bluestarone]

23. This is in the Maine voters hands!

I trust the Democrats in Maine! (those are the ONLY ones that decide this)

[MrsCheaplaugh]

24. Funny how allegations like this always come out of the woodwork

when it looks like the candidate is going to win.

[sop]

33. "Journalists were swarming, staking out his hometown." What man (maybe some women, too) would stand up to such scrutiny?

Platner is running against a woman (in the primary, then the general election if he wins the primary), so the opposition and corporate media are pulling out all the stops to dig up dirt that would most "concern" women voters: being a "terrible boyfriend," an all-around rake and a cad.

As Sun Tzu noted, always attack an opponent's weakest point; It's the most efficient path to victory because it requires less effort to break a vulnerable defense than to batter through a fortified one. Strange how these things work in GOP politics.

Meanwhile, down in the Lone Star State, Talarico is running against the worst sort of scumbag. Paxton's a verifiable piece of shit, makes even Trump look like a stand-up guy. So, Republicans and corporate media are going after Talarico because he's too christian, doesn't "eat enough beef," has a "vegan girlfriend," and since he's never been accused of sexual assaults, he must not be "masculine enough," maybe he's even "transgender." That's what Texas Republicans consider his most vulnerable defense.

[MissKat]

39. take a breath take a breath

I like Platner-- he's a good speaker.

That said, I'm remembering Al Franken. And I hated hated hated that. I still can't stand to listen to Kirsten Gillebrand.

I think the attacks on Graham Platner are nothing more than a hit job.

Why?

Because back, last century-- after soldiers came home from Viet Nam I remember being warned that a lot of these guys had been through brutal situations. Be careful. Give them room. They might be troubled. They've been through a lot.

So, the soldiers coming back from Iraq-- after seeing battle-- are they supposed to be perfect gentlemen?

It doesn't mean bad behavior should be ignored. But it has to be put into the category of maybe we need to give them some room.
Being rude isn't a crime.

I don't think Graham Platner is a perfect gentleman. But from his speeches, yes, he's a good candidate and let's not crucify him without taking the time to be thoughtful.

Now it's up to the voters in Maine.

I think he'll win.