Maine Democrat Graham Platner faces no real primary threat in his Senate race Tuesday, but the contest has become about something far more consequential: whether a torrent of personal controversies will weaken him enough to hand Republicans an opening in November.
Platner secured his position as the likely nominee after Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign weeks ago, unable to build fundraising momentum or polling strength. Yet his path forward has been complicated by a relentless series of damaging revelations that have the party worried he could lose a seat Democrats need to keep.
The scandals began with Reddit posts spanning 2009 to 2021 in which Platner made racist, profane and sexually inappropriate comments, including remarks that downplayed sexual assault. He also wore a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which he claimed not to recognize until late last year, when he covered it up.
But the controversy deepened sharply this spring. A report revealed that Platner exchanged sexually explicit texts with multiple women early in his marriage. More seriously, The New York Times published accounts from three former girlfriends describing his behavior as volatile and unsettling. One woman, who had worked for Republican campaigns, alleged that Platner was physically rough with her, including an incident where she said he twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed to prevent her from leaving. She also disputed his claim about the tattoo, saying he knew its meaning long before last year.
Platner denied the allegations during an appearance on Morning news. "Some of the allegations are simply not true," he said, and he characterized claims about physical aggression and his knowledge of the tattoo as statements from someone motivated by politics.
The timing creates an unusual dynamic for Tuesday's primary. Early voting has been underway since May 14, meaning many Democrats cast ballots before the most explosive allegations surfaced. Mills remains technically on the ballot, though she has shown no signs of restarting her campaign. Some Democratic operatives have quietly begun researching procedures to replace Platner as the nominee if he chooses to drop out, signaling genuine concern within party leadership.
Even if Platner wins decisively on Tuesday, the margin will matter enormously. A narrow victory or a significant protest vote from Democrats could signal vulnerability heading into the general election, when he will face a Republican challenger in a state that has grown more competitive in recent cycles.
Across the region, other races on the ballot Tuesday reveal the stakes for both parties in the months ahead. In South Carolina, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is spending heavily to fend off a primary challenge from self-funding businessman Mark Lynch, who has invested $5 million of his own money into the race. While Trump endorsed Graham over a year ago, his endorsement has not eliminated the threat entirely. Graham has never cracked 70% in a Republican primary, and Lynch's challenge appears to have gained some traction with conservative voters skeptical of the incumbent.
The Senate primaries in both states are really about margins. A weak showing by either Platner or Graham could suggest cracks in their general election armor that savvy Democrats might exploit.
The gubernatorial races command attention for different reasons. Maine's Democratic primary for governor features five major candidates in a scrambled field: former state CDC director Nirav Shah, ex-state Senate President Troy Jackson, renewable energy entrepreneur Angus King III (whose father is a sitting U.S. Senator), Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former House Speaker Hannah Pingree. None is polling at 50%, meaning Maine's ranked choice voting system will determine the winner through a process of eliminating the lowest vote-getter and reallocating their votes until two candidates remain.
The Republican gubernatorial primary in Maine is equally crowded, with former State Department official Bobby Charles leading a field that includes healthcare technology executive Jonathan Bush, real estate businessman David Jones, former legislator Garrett Mason and fitness entrepreneur Ben Midgley. It, too, will likely trigger ranked choice voting.
South Carolina's Republican primary for governor uses a different tiebreaker. If no candidate wins a majority on Tuesday, the top two finishers face a runoff on June 23. Trump's late-May endorsement of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette was meant to settle what had become a bruising fight for his blessing, but it remains unclear whether the endorsement shifts enough votes her way to avoid a runoff. Other serious contenders include state Attorney General Alan Wilson and Republican Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman.
House races also deserve scrutiny. Maine's 2nd Congressional District is shaping up as one of the year's most competitive battlegrounds. Democrat Jared Golden, one of the most conservative members of his party, is retiring, leaving the seat open. The district went for Trump by 9 points in 2024, making it a prime Republican pickup target. The Democratic primary field includes state Sen. Joe Baldacci, a fundraiser boosted by the House Democratic campaign committee's "Red to Blue" program; State Auditor Matt Dunlap, running from the progressive left; and Jordan Wood, a former Katie Porter staffer who has outraised both opponents. Republican Paul LePage, the former governor with Trump's endorsement, runs unopposed.
Nevada hosts several House primaries worth monitoring. Democratic Rep. Susie Lee must defend a seat Trump won by less than a point, facing self-funding doctor James Lally in the Democratic primary. On the Republican side, Trump endorsed video game composer Marty O'Donnell, known for his work on the "Halo" video game franchise and vintage advertising jingles, over Trump ambassador Jeff Gunter, who is also running.
North Dakota rounds out Tuesday's primary calendar, though its races generate less national focus. The big stories unfold in Maine and South Carolina, where the outcomes could reshape the map for November.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Platner's vulnerabilities are real and multiplying just as voters are locking in their choices, a timing problem that could haunt Democrats all the way to November."
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