Democrats in Maine are confronting an uncomfortable problem: their likely Senate nominee arrives at Tuesday's primary weighted down by a growing list of controversies that party insiders worry could cost them a rare chance to challenge Susan Collins.
Graham Platner, a military veteran, had appeared headed for a smooth path to the Democratic nomination after Gov. Janet Mills abruptly suspended her campaign in late April. Instead, divisions within the party have deepened as lawmakers and activists express alarm over the scope of the scandals shadowing his candidacy.
The latest blow came Thursday when the New York Times published interviews with three of Platner's former girlfriends describing his behavior as toxic and unsettling. One woman, Lyndsey Fifield, detailed an incident from when they dated between 2013 and 2015 in which Platner allegedly twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom, and held the door closed while demanding she remain there until she was calm. Fifield also claimed Platner knew the meaning of a Nazi tattoo he later had covered.
Platner denied the allegations during an appearance on MSNBC, calling them politically motivated. "Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging that I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of someone who's politically motivated," he said. He rejected suggestions he might withdraw from the race, insisting he had not considered dropping out.
Behind the scenes, some Democrats have already begun exploring how to replace Platner should he leave the ticket. The mood inside the party reflects anxiety that he may prove too damaged a candidate to mount a credible general election challenge against Collins, one of the most formidable Republican incumbents in the Senate.
Yet Platner's support has not collapsed. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, acknowledged the Times story described behavior that was "wrong and toxic," but said Platner had "acknowledged that and sought redemption" and called on voters to judge him on his policy positions.
Democratic state Rep. Valli Geiger, who endorsed Platner, defended him more forcefully. "It's a lot harder to dislodge us because we know the man. We've met the man," she said, describing him as a generational talent. Platner proceeded with plans to hold a rally in Bar Harbor with supporters standing by him.
The contours of the split mirror a wider tension in Democratic politics: the calculation that a flawed but ideologically aligned candidate is preferable to a Republican opponent versus the view that some controversies are too severe to overcome in a general election where swing voters scrutinize candidates carefully.
Meanwhile in New Jersey, a different puzzle is unfolding on Capitol Hill. Rep. Tom Kean Jr., a 57-year-old Republican, has not voted or appeared in public for three months, yet his office continues to post nearly daily updates suggesting active engagement with his district.
Kean's team has attributed his absence to what they describe as a "personal medical issue" but has offered no further details. In his absence, his office has authored legislation, submitted remarks to the Congressional Record purporting to document floor speeches, and announced initiatives like a "Hometown Heroes" program honoring first responders. One entry published Tuesday quoted Kean commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Jewish Federation of West Central New Jersey as if he were present to deliver the remarks.
The posts are raising eyebrows among colleagues who have tried unsuccessfully to reach Kean. "If they're talking to him and he's signing off on these things, that's one thing. If they're doing it without consulting with him, that's another. I don't think the latter is acceptable," said a New Jersey Democratic lawmaker who spoke anonymously about attempts to contact Kean. "No one has any idea what's going on with him. Like, literally no one knows."
While staffers routinely post on lawmakers' behalf, the extended absence combined with the ambiguous social media activity has created unusual confusion about whether Kean is actively directing his office or whether his team is operating independently. Kean's office did not respond to requests for comment.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Platner's path to the Democratic nod was supposed to be a coronation, but instead Maine Democrats are bracing for impact every other day. And Kean's ghost presence on Capitol Hill raises genuine questions about what transparency constituents deserve."
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