Days before Maine's primary, The New York Times published allegations that Democratic frontrunner Graham Platner behaved abusively toward a former girlfriend; Platner denies the claims and calls some reporting politically motivated. The story also revisits controversy over a tattoo Platner received in the Marines and his admission of sending explicit texts after his 2023 marriage. Responses among lawmakers are split, and the race — a national toss-up — remains consequential for control of the U.S. Senate.
Fresh Allegations Shake Graham Platner Days Before Maine Senate Primary
Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks during a town hall on May 20, 2026 in Portland, Maine. / Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Graham Platner, the Democratic front-runner in Maine's Senate primary, is facing fresh allegations published by The New York Times just days before voters head to the polls.
Allegations And Denials
The Times reported that Lyndsey Fifield, who says she dated Platner from 2013 to 2015, accused him of repeatedly grabbing her by the shoulders — "sometimes hard enough to leave marks" — and of an incident in which he allegedly twisted her arm, shoved her into a bedroom, and held the door closed. Platner has denied those claims, telling MS Now that "there are some allegations in this piece that I just want to be kind of unequivocal about, are simply not true," and characterizing parts of the reporting as politically motivated.
Tattoo Controversy And Personal Accountability
The report also renewed scrutiny over a chest tattoo Platner obtained while serving in the Marines in 2007 that critics link to Nazi imagery. Platner says he was drunk when he got the tattoo, did not understand its meaning at the time, and has since covered it; Fifield told the Times she believes he knew its significance and sometimes joked about it. Separately, Platner acknowledged sending sexually explicit text messages to other women shortly after marrying Amy Gertner in 2023; Gertner informed the campaign and the couple say they have worked through the matter.
Reactions From Across The Political Spectrum
The allegations have produced a split response among Democrats and other political figures. Some Senate Democrats pressed Platner to answer questions about his personal conduct; Vermont Sen. Peter Welch said Platner "has the obligation as a candidate to address the legitimate questions that Mainers have." Others have continued to support him: Rep. Ro Khanna campaigned for Platner and defended his redemption arc, while Sen. Bernie Sanders has highlighted outside spending against the candidate. Republican Sen. Susan Collins called the new allegations "troubling," and Sen. John Fetterman criticized Platner's earlier statements about the tattoo.
Why This Matters
Maine's Senate contest is widely viewed as one of a handful of national toss-up races that could help determine control of the U.S. Senate. The Democratic nominee will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November; with the outcome carrying potential national consequences, questions about a leading candidate's character and fitness for office have heightened scrutiny in the campaign's final days.
Sources: The New York Times, MS Now, CBS News.
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