Maine Democrats largely stand by Graham Platner amid D.C. worries

Bar Harbor — Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate vying to unseat Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins, told a standing‑room crowd at the Criterion Theatre on Friday that Mainers have stood by him as his personal past resurfaced in a week of intense news coverage.

The former oyster farmer from Sullivan, who served four combat tours in the Middle East and has spoken openly about battling post‑traumatic stress disorder and heavy drinking, addressed roughly 600 supporters in a 25‑minute speech that blended apology with defiance.

“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 said. “Now, as every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated and weaponized, you have my back.”

The rally came days after the New York Times published a story detailing accusations from six women who had been romantically involved with Platner at various points in his life. Three of those women described behavior they characterized as threatening or physically intimidating.

One of them, Lyndsey Fifield, who dated Platner from 2013 to 2015, alleged that he repeatedly grabbed her shoulders—sometimes hard enough to leave marks—pulled her from a cab by her wrists and, during an argument, twisted her arms behind her back and held a bedroom door shut. Fifield, a longtime Republican operative, also said Platner was aware of the significance of a Nazi‑related symbol he bears on his body long before he publicly acknowledged it. Platner has denied ever striking or physically injuring Fifield and has rejected the claim that he understood the tattoo’s meaning at the time.

Earlier in the week, reports also surfaced about Platner’s involvement in extramarital sexting, which he has called a mistake.

Despite the cascade of allegations, Platner’s campaign reported its strongest fundraising day in more than a month after the Times story ran, a sign, aides said, that core supporters were rallying behind him.

The candidate’s coalition of Democratic lawmakers has largely held firm. In the spring, 20 state legislators endorsed him. Reporters for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram contacted each of those lawmakers; eight responded, and all said they continue to back Platner.

Representative Vicki Doudera of Camden said Platner has been transparent about his military service, PTSD and recovery. “Real people—authentic, genuine people—work to overcome and learn from their past challenges,” Doudera said. “Those are the people we want representing us. I voted for Graham Platner because he is a hardworking, smart guy who cares about the same Mainers that I care about. He’s going to have the working people in this state’s backs. That’s why he earned my vote.”

Other Democrats have taken a more cautious stance. Social worker Paige Loud, a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, said she believes the women who have come forward but expressed frustration that she was being asked to answer for the behavior of men in politics. “Let me say this clearly: I believe women. I am a survivor of domestic abuse, sexual assault and intimidation by men,” Loud said. “We do not get to pick and choose which women to believe.”

Mike Turcotte, a Burnham resident who has previously run as an independent for the Legislature, said he wished the party had fielded a different nominee. “Platner turned himself around from the abyss,” Turcotte said. “But a U.S. senator is Maine’s face to a national audience.”

National party leaders have weighed in with concern. Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire said the allegations warrant scrutiny. “Reports of threatening behavior and antisemitism like the ones made against Graham Platner are serious and deserve scrutiny,” she said. “Character matters now more than ever.”

Robert Zimmerman, a member of the Democratic National Committee, warned that the controversy could complicate the party’s push to flip the seat. “Democrats in Maine and throughout the country have got to decide what is their priority: Justifying Graham Platner’s behavior or winning the Democratic seat in Maine,” he told Politico.

The race is seen as a top pickup opportunity for Democrats in 2026. Maine voted for President Biden in 2024, and Collins is the only Republican on the ballot in a state where Democrats hold a majority of registered voters.

The rally also featured State Auditor Matt Dunlap, a former Senate candidate from Bar Harbor, and California U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, both of whom publicly endorsed Platner. Dunlap, whose integrity was praised by many attendees, sidestepped questions about whether the scandals warranted a change in the party’s nominee.

If Platner were to withdraw before mid‑July, the state party could replace him on the ballot. Platner, however, has said he has no intention of stepping aside. “Dropping out hasn’t crossed my mind,” he told Maine News Now this week.

Supporters say they remain focused on Platner’s policy agenda, which includes a Medicare‑for‑All health plan and new taxes on billionaires. Representative Valli Geiger, a Republican from Rockland, criticized what she called a preoccupation with personal scandals. “This is some of the ugliest, dirty politics I’ve ever seen,” Geiger told a Press Herald reporter. “This is some of the worst character assassination because of his platform. And it would be really nice if people like you and others started to actually talk about his platform instead of this kind of stuff.”

Ken Elowe, a 70‑year‑old retired wildlife official from Bristol, said the way Platner has handled the revelations has only strengthened his resolve. “Anybody who can endure having their private life exposed and remain accountable and also stick to what he feels is most important to move forward has got my strong support,” Elowe said.

With the Democratic primary scheduled for next week, Platner appears likely to secure the nomination and move on to the general election contest against Collins. The latest round of allegations has added a turbulent chapter to a campaign that has seen a political newcomer surge to the front‑runner position, and it remains to be seen how voters will weigh personal history against policy goals when they head to the polls.