The campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner from Maine encountered a challenging situation in 2025. Amy Gertner, Platner’s wife since November 2023, disclosed to the campaign that he had sent inappropriate messages to other women. This revelation emerged during an internal vetting process, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

In a statement shared by the Platner campaign, Gertner mentioned that they have gone through counseling and their marriage is now strong. “I know the man I married and the husband he has been to me on the best and the worst days of my life. That hasn’t changed, and it won’t,” she stated. Gertner also expressed her dismay over sharing “deeply personal details” with a campaign staffer, feeling betrayed by the breach of privacy.

Platner, who is likely to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the upcoming November midterm elections, was left as the presumptive Democratic nominee after Maine Gov. Janet Mills withdrew from the race in April. He has faced criticism for past inappropriate comments online and a tattoo he got during his Marine Corps service that resembled a Nazi symbol, though he has since covered it up.

The outcome of the Maine Senate race holds significant importance for determining which party will control the chamber after the midterms. Platner, who has received endorsements from progressive Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, has focused his campaign on his working-class roots and populist policies.

In an interview in April with CBS News’ Major Garrett on “The Takeout,” Platner attributed his previous controversial stances to post-traumatic stress disorder and the culture within the military, which he described as “a hyper-masculine, hyper-violent place.” He remarked, “We have a crude sense of humor in the infantry. We certainly have a, I would say, narrow view of a lot of topics, and that colored my opinions and my beliefs.” He emphasized that his viewpoints have evolved through diverse experiences and learning.