Amy Gertner Responds to Reports of Husband’s Explicit Texts Amid Senate Campaign

Amy Gertner, wife of Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine, expressed frustration over reports that she had informed her husband’s campaign about sexually explicit texts he sent to other women. In a video released by Platner’s campaign, Gertner said, “It makes me really angry, disappointed. And I find it really shameful that there’s a group of media outlets and people who are willing to spread gossip instead of talking about real issues that Graham is running on.”

Reports from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal indicate that Gertner disclosed the texts to campaign officials in 2025 during an internal vetting process near the start of Platner’s Senate bid. The Times cited a former senior campaign official, while the Journal referenced people familiar with the matter. Gertner emphasized in her video, “Graham and I have a great marriage. 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.”

The couple, married in November 2023, have been open about their struggles with infertility, including traveling to Norway for in vitro fertilization treatment earlier this year. Gertner added, “Our marriage counselor helps. My personal counselor helps. Graham’s personal counselor helps. No marriage is perfect, and I don’t want a perfect marriage. I want my marriage, and I want to be married to Graham.”

Gertner also addressed a breach of privacy, stating she had confided deeply personal details about their marriage to a campaign staffer she trusted and expressed feeling deeply hurt by what she called a betrayal. According to The New York Times, the staffer, Genevieve McDonald, who was the campaign’s political director, resigned in October 2025 following controversy over Platner’s past Reddit posts and reports about a tattoo he covered up that resembled a Nazi symbol. McDonald was quoted by The New York Times saying, “The United States Senate is not a training ground for redemption. It is a place for proven leaders with moral clarity and integrity.”

Platner’s campaign has faced multiple controversies since its launch, including resurfaced Reddit posts where he made offensive remarks about military sexual assault survivors, rural white people, and referred to himself as a “communist.” In an April 2025 interview with CBS News, Platner attributed his past views to post-traumatic stress disorder and his military experience, describing the infantry as “a hyper-masculine, hyper-violent place.” He said, “We have a crude sense of humor in the infantry. We certainly have a, I would say, narrow view of a lot of topics, and that colored my opinions and my beliefs. Over the years in between, I met a lot more people, had a lot more experiences, learned a lot more about the world. And my opinions have changed with it.”

Despite these issues, Platner has maintained momentum and secured endorsements from prominent progressive figures such as Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and Representative Ro Khanna. Following reports of explicit texts, Khanna tweeted his continued support, saying, “I am proud of @grahamformaine for having the character to stand up against the war in Iran, against genocide, and against an unfair & lopsided economy. I am proud of him for having a vision for a new deal for our time. Excited to campaign with him June 5!”

Platner is expected to face Republican Senator Susan Collins, who is seeking a sixth term. Collins has outperformed other Republicans in recent elections in Maine, a state that has leaned Democratic in presidential races. The outcome of the Maine Senate race is viewed as significant for control of the U.S. Senate in the upcoming midterm elections.

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker expressed concerns about Platner’s candidacy on ABC’s This Week, saying, “That guy has questions to answer – and that’s what campaigns are for.” Booker emphasized the importance of Democrats winning control of Congress amid ongoing national challenges.

Maine Governor Janet Mills, who had launched a campaign for the Democratic nomination, dropped out in April after trailing Platner in the polls and struggling to raise funds. Platner’s campaign continues to focus on his working-class background and progressive platform as he prepares for the June 9 primary and the November general election.