Maine Senate Candidate Wins Primary, Then Gets Blasted By His Own Ex-Campaign Chief
Graham Platner won Maine's Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday, but his victory was immediately clouded by his former campaign director publicly telling voters not to support him.
Platner will now face Republican Senator Susan Collins in November's general election [169788][170042]. The primary win came despite a series of controversies, including allegations that Platner sent explicit messages without consent to several women while married and reports of an old tattoo linked to Nazi imagery [169423]. Platner has also faced accusations of violent behavior in a past relationship, which he denies [169423].
Hours before polls opened, a bombshell claim shook the campaign when Platner's former campaign director stated publicly that Platner should not become a senator, citing scandals from his past [169028]. The director did not provide specific evidence, but the timing of the statement was likely to influence undecided voters [169028]. Platner's campaign had not responded to the claim at the time [169028].
The race is already shaping up to be a key battleground for control of the Senate. Collins has called Platner "too extreme" for Maine voters, arguing that the candidate backed by Senator Bernie Sanders holds positions too far left for the state [169020]. Platner has responded by labeling Collins the "radical" candidate in the race [169020]. Maine has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1992 [169423].