Graham Platner, a frontrunner in the Maine Democratic Senate primary, is scheduled to meet with Democratic senators in Washington on Tuesday afternoon, according to sources familiar with the plans. This meeting will allow senators to inquire about allegations that Platner sent sexually explicit text messages to multiple women in 2023, as reported by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) expressed concerns regarding the allegations, stating, "Yes, I have concerns. That guy has questions to answer. And that's what campaigns are for."
Democrats are increasingly worried about Platner's viability in the Senate race, questioning whether the text message revelations are a significant setback for his campaign. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) previously supported Governor Janet Mills in the race, but she suspended her campaign last month.
In addition to the meetings, Platner is set to attend several fundraisers in Washington, including one hosted by Ron Klain, a former chief of staff to President Biden.
While Platner has disputed some aspects of the reporting, his campaign has not denied the central claim regarding the explicit text messages. A campaign official stated, "Graham isn't saying the texts to other women at the start of the marriage are not real. They are," and expressed frustration over the sensationalization of private matters. Platner acknowledged the challenges of his marriage and campaign, stating, "Being married is hard. Being newly married is hard. Being newly married and going through infertility is hard. Being newly married, going through infertility, and a Senate campaign is hard."