Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is pushing back against allegations that have engulfed his campaign, dismissing reports of extramarital sexting as little more than “gossip” pushed by the media establishment.
Platner and his wife, Amy Gertner, briefly addressed the controversy Sunday following a campaign appearance in Portland, marking the candidate’s first public comments since the allegations surfaced.
The controversy stems from reports that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women while married. His campaign has acknowledged the number could be as high as six women, though earlier allegations suggested there may have been more.
Rather than directly addressing the accusations, Platner argued the focus should remain on economic issues facing Maine voters.
“It’s no surprise to me that the establishment media outlets are just going to run gossip instead of wanting to talk about the things that actually matter in this race, which are the material realities that Mainers are working with,” Platner said.
He also defended his marriage and suggested media organizations were attempting to damage his family.
“Amy and I have a very loving and very happy marriage. They would very much like to try to rip that apart,” he said.
When asked whether the allegations themselves were inaccurate, Platner did not directly deny them. Instead, he accused major news outlets of relying on insufficient evidence.
“The Wall Street Journal and New York Times ran stories without any evidence besides the gossip from a former staffer. I’m sorry, that’s frankly, journalistic malpractice,” Platner said.
The controversy intensified after reports revealed Platner maintained an account on the messaging application Kik, a platform often associated with anonymous conversations and dating-related interactions. According to reports, his profile photo featured a bathroom mirror selfie showing him wearing only a towel.
Platner insisted the matter had already been discussed privately with his wife and campaign staff.
“they would very much like to try to rip [our marriage] apart”
bro, you have a profile on a perverted hook up app and you’re sexting up to a dozen other women
this is 100% on you pic.twitter.com/5tUXusGU1v
— Nathan Brand (@nathanbrand) May 31, 2026
“We talked about things in Amy and I’s marriage that we’ve gone through over the years. We talked about that, because that’s our marriage, and we discussed it with the campaign,” he said.
In a twist that further fueled scrutiny, reports indicated Gertner herself alerted campaign staffers about her husband’s activities.
Hannity’s Highlights
Graham Platner publicly addressed allegations he exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women during his marriage — the candidate broke his silence after reports surfaced raising questions about his personal conduct.
Platner called the reports “gossip” and accused major media outlets of chasing scandal over substance — arguing the press should be focused on policy rather than his personal life.
He did not directly deny the allegations when pressed by reporters — a notable omission that is likely to keep the story alive heading into the election.
The controversy adds to earlier scrutiny over a tattoo resembling a Nazi SS Totenkopf symbol — Platner is now managing two separate character controversies simultaneously on the campaign trail.
The sexting allegations are only the latest challenge facing Platner’s candidacy.
The Marine veteran and oyster farmer previously faced intense criticism after a tattoo on his chest was revealed to resemble a Totenkopf, or “death’s head,” symbol historically associated with Nazi SS units. Platner said he received the tattoo during a drunken night out in Croatia in 2007 and denied understanding its historical significance at the time.
More over at The New York Post:
Graham Platner breaks silence on sexting scandal with wife glued to his side https://t.co/eMmIhF8psN pic.twitter.com/Dqx2u2eLLV
— New York Post (@nypost) June 1, 2026
