Democrats reluctantly back Platner as GOP weaponizes Maine race

Democrats, led by Schumer and Gillibrand, acknowledge Graham Platner’s Maine primary victory with an eye toward flipping the Senate, while Republicans cast him as a foil for the party nationwide. Platner faces continued scrutiny over past relationships, alleged text messages, a PTSD defense, old Reddit posts, and a Nazi-symbol tattoo, which he attributes to mental health struggles and questions his credibility. He frames the race as an anti-establishment referendum against Susan Collins, and endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Ruben Gallego bolster his campaign as he airs a general-election ad tying Epstein to both parties, highlighting how Platner’s history is being used in the national fight for Senate control.