SouthernWorldwide.com – Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner addressed a crowd of supporters, labeling new allegations against him as “false accusations” and expressing gratitude for their backing.
Platner, a military veteran and oyster farmer challenging incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, is currently navigating several controversies. These include past inflammatory online comments, a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, and recent allegations from former girlfriends detailing a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking, and violent episodes.
“When hurtful things I said on the internet a decade ago came out into the public as I shared my personal journey through PTSD and darkness of recovery and accountability and growth. Maine had my back,” Platner stated at a rally on Friday. “Now, as every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated, and weaponized, you have my back. And when politically motivated, serious and false, false accusations are made against me. Maine, you have my back.”
Senator Collins, a moderate Republican known for occasionally opposing President Donald Trump’s agenda, is seeking her sixth term in the Senate. Her race in the left-leaning state of Maine is considered pivotal in determining the Republican Party’s slim majority in the Senate.
Platner, who has garnered support from progressive figures like Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and Representative Ro Khanna, is advocating for an economically populist platform. His campaign focuses on critiquing corporate influence and championing the working class.
He is widely expected to secure the Democratic nomination. This follows the withdrawal of two-term Governor Janet Mills, who had been endorsed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and the party establishment. Mills had been significantly trailing Platner in fundraising and polling.
Platner has openly discussed his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from his military service in Afghanistan and Iraq. He issued an apology for his controversial Reddit posts last fall, shortly after announcing his Senate campaign.
Regarding the tattoo, Platner stated it was acquired in 2007 while drinking with fellow Marines in Croatia. He explained that he covered it with a new design last year after learning it bore resemblance to a Nazi symbol. However, the recent allegations have raised questions about his timeline of awareness concerning the tattoo’s appearance.
The rally on Friday featured speeches from progressive candidates Troy Jackson and Matt Dunlap, and was organized by Representative Ro Khanna.
“I’m more concerned about making it clear that we’re opposed to misogyny, those relationships were toxic and volatile, there’s no excuse for that,” Khanna remarked. “I talked to Graham and he says he was at a very dark period, he had come back from two tours of duty in Iraq as an infantry man seeing violence and death. That doesn’t excuse it.”
Khanna added that Platner expressed feeling ashamed of that period, stating he found peace and personal growth after returning to Maine and becoming an oyster farmer. “To me that suggests someone taking accountability and improving their lives and we need that redemption in this country. And I agree with a lot of his economic polices, that we should be taxing the billionaires, we should be focusing on the working class,” Khanna said.
Senator Collins, who returned to Maine on Friday after a busy week in Washington D.C. where she cast her 10,000th consecutive vote in the Senate, was questioned by reporters about the latest allegations against Platner.
“The allegations in the latest story are troubling,” Collins stated. “And I believe that Graham Platner has a lot of questions to answer.”
An outside political group aligned with Senator Collins has been actively criticizing Platner, running advertisements that highlight his controversies.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) also commented on Platner via a social media post following the rally.
“Graham Platner says his violent and erratic past is being “weaponized” against him. Platner said he would rape someone to show his dominance and “rape was about power,” the RNC research team wrote on X, as it pointed to new allegations against the candidate.”
Despite the challenges, Platner expressed optimism about his campaign’s prospects. “But he predicted that “Platner is going to come out victorious. And we need to unite and realize that the goal is defeating the the Susan Collins. And everyone from Schumer to Sanders is unified around that goal.”
Platner’s campaign reported that over 600 people attended the rally held in a theater in a resort town near Acadia National Park, close to Platner’s hometown of Sullivan. The campaign also announced a fundraising haul of $200,000 in the preceding 24 hours, marking their strongest fundraising day since Governor Mills suspended her campaign.
Reactions from attendees were mixed. Jeff from Waterboro, Maine, expressed concern, stating, “it’s not a good situation. I think it’s somebody who shouldn’t’ be in the mix. I am a conservative but he’s just got so much damage, if the Democrats want to have a winner, they’re going to have to find somebody else. He’s not the guy. It’s just too much.”
However, Ellen from Acton, Maine, a registered Republican, offered a different perspective. “Is he a perfect person, heck no,” she said. “I think he will go in and do a good job,” she added.
