Platner rejects abuse allegations before Maine Senate primary

Graham Platner, the progressive Democrat poised to win Maine’s Senate primary, is rejecting new allegations about his past treatment of women as politically motivated, deepening party anxiety days before voters choose a nominee to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

The allegations were published Thursday by The New York Times, which reported interviews with three former girlfriends who described Platner’s behavior at times as “toxic” and “unsettling.” Platner, a 41-year-old military veteran, has faced scrutiny for past social media posts, sexually explicit text messages sent early in his marriage and a tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol that he has since covered.

Platner said he does not plan to leave the race. His campaign said he intends to continue, and he told MS NOW on Thursday night that he had not considered dropping out “not once.”

“Throughout this campaign, I’ve been open about what was a very dark period of my life where I struggled with undiagnosed PTSD, too often self medicated with alcohol, and was a far from perfect boyfriend,” Platner said in a statement. “I take responsibility for all of that, and wish I had been better. Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated.”

The Times reported that Lyndsey Fifield, who dated Platner from roughly 2013 to 2015, accused him of physical misconduct during their relationship. Fifield alleged that during one argument he “twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed from the other side so she couldn’t get out, telling her to remain there until she was ‘calm.’” She also told the Times that Platner had referred to his tattoo as “my Totenkopf,” casting doubt on his claim that he did not know its meaning.

NBC News said it had not confirmed the details in the Times report. The Times said Platner strongly disputed claims of physical intimidation or altercations and said it could not independently corroborate Fifield’s account of them.

“There are some allegations in this piece that are simply not true,” Platner told MS NOW. “Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of somebody politically motivated.”

Platner’s campaign emphasized Fifield’s Republican ties. “Let’s be very clear: This is a lifelong GOP operative who’s dedicated her career to electing Republicans,” a campaign official said. Fifield has worked for the Heritage Foundation and Nikki Haley’s 2024 presidential campaign and is affiliated with the conservative group Independent Women. She told the Times she has not been paid by any political entity since then.

The Times also cited Jenny Racicot, a Maine Democrat who said she dated Platner from 2019 to 2021. “When I saw the old comments that he made online, I recognized a version of him that I had experiences with,” she told the paper. A third former girlfriend, also a Maine Democrat who was not named, described heavy drinking and infidelity and said she felt like “collateral damage to the world that is his.” Three other women who dated Platner gave more positive accounts to the Times, describing him as caring and charming.

The report landed less than a week before Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign in late April but remains on the ballot, leaving Platner on track for the nomination. In Maine, a nominee can be replaced after a primary only if the nominee withdraws.

Some Democrats urged him to step aside, while others stood by him. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who was scheduled to appear with Platner at a Friday rally in Bar Harbor, said he still planned to attend, according to a person familiar with the plans.

“The behavior described in the New York Times story was wrong and toxic,” Khanna said. “Graham has acknowledged that and sought redemption.”

Democratic state Rep. Valli Geiger, who has supported Platner, said the timing of the allegations “makes me support him more because it just feels like dirty politics to me.” But Matt Bennett of the Democratic think tank Third Way said the controversies raised electoral concerns. “There have been a lot of red flags in this race, and they continue to proliferate,” he said.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., a frequent Platner critic, questioned whether Maine voters would accept the candidate. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., called the allegations serious but said, “it’s up to the voters in Maine to decide.”

If nominated, Platner would face Collins, who is seeking a sixth term. Democrats view the Maine race as important to their effort to regain control of the Senate.