Bernie Sanders Stands by Graham Platner Despite Sexting Scandal as Maine Senate Primary Nears

Sen. Bernie Sanders is refusing to back away from his endorsement of Graham Platner, the progressive Maine Senate candidate, even after reports that Platner exchanged sexually explicit text messages with several women after marrying his wife two years ago — the latest controversy to roil a campaign that nonetheless appears poised to win next week's Democratic primary.

Asked by reporters whether he would reconsider his support, Sanders was emphatic. "Of course" he still backs Platner, the Vermont independent said, adding, "Why would I not?" He said he would "certainly not" be reconsidering the endorsement and sought to redirect attention to policy. "My understanding is that his wife, Amy, who I've met, indicated they love each other," Sanders said. "But maybe we focus on the issues facing the American people, the people of Maine, and not the marriage issues facing Graham Platner."

The text exchanges were first reported by The Wall Street Journal, and Platner's campaign confirmed them to Politico. According to the reporting, Platner's wife discovered the messages months after the couple married in 2024. The episode is only the most recent in a series of controversies that have dogged the insurgent candidate, who has run as an unapologetic economic populist backed by Sanders and organized labor.

Platner, an oysterman who operates a farm on Frenchman Bay and serves as harbormaster in Sullivan, Maine, has built an unlikely political brand as a working-class Marine and Army veteran taking on the political establishment. Despite the scandals, he still appears favored to prevail in the June 9 Democratic primary, with several reports describing him as poised to win.

The race has been complicated by the presence of Gov. Janet Mills, once viewed as Democrats' top recruit, who suspended her campaign in April citing a lack of funds but whose name remains on the ballot in a state that uses ranked-choice voting. Mills has reminded voters she is "still on the ballot" and has so far declined to endorse Platner. Also running is Democrat David Costello.

The standoff has exposed a fault line within the Democratic coalition over how to handle candidates whose personal conduct collides with the party's stated values, particularly in the wake of the #MeToo era. Some Maine Democrats have privately voiced anxiety that Platner's vulnerabilities could be exploited by Collins in a general election, while his supporters argue that voters care more about his populist economic message than his private behavior, and that establishment hand-wringing only strengthens his outsider appeal.

The eventual Democratic nominee will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November in a race national Democrats see as critical to their hopes of reclaiming the Senate majority. For now, the party finds itself wrestling with a flawed but resilient front-runner — and a prominent endorser in Sanders who shows no sign of wavering.