{"id":2608668,"date":"2026-05-30T17:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T21:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/platners-wife-raised-sexually-explicit-texts-to-senate-campaign-aide-report\/"},"modified":"2026-05-30T17:27:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T21:27:55","slug":"platners-wife-raised-sexually-explicit-texts-to-senate-campaign-aide-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/platners-wife-raised-sexually-explicit-texts-to-senate-campaign-aide-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Platner&#8217;s wife raised sexually explicit texts to Senate campaign aide: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fplatners-wife-raised-sexually-explicit-texts-to-senate-campaign-aide-report%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2608668&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Maine senate candidate Graham Platner\u2019s wife, Amy Gertner, told a campaign aide during a vetting exercise last summer that she had <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >previously found sexually explicit texts wiht multiple women<\/a> on Platner\u2019s phone. Gertner said she informed the campaign\u2019s then<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/flashback-nikki-haleys-own-ex-political-director-exposes-gop-hopeful-on-tucker-carlson\/\" title=\"Nikki Haley&#039;s former political director exposes GOP hopeful on Tucker Carlson in flashback\">-political director<\/a>, Genevieve McDonald, about her husband\u2019s extramarital relationships to ensure they would not pose a risk to his nascent campaign, according to reporting from the *Wall Street Journal*. <\/p>\n<p>Gertner and Platner married in November 2023. The disclosure adds to a series of controversies surrounding Platner\u2019s bid to challenge incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, including criticism over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/seven-biggest-moments-of-the-senate-in-2023\/\" title=\"Top 7 Senate Highlights in 2023\">derogatory social media posts<\/a> and a controversial tattoo. Platner has been the presumptive Democratic nominee since Gov. Janet Mills dropped out in April, and a recent University of New Hampshire poll found him leading Collins by nine points in a theoretical matchup. <\/p>\n<p>In statements provided by the campaign, Gertner disputed McDonald\u2019s role and said she was \u201cdeeply hurt,\u201d describing the situation as an invasion of privacy, while a campaign official said the matter was handled privately through marriage counseling.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maine\/\">Maine<\/a> Senate candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\">Graham Platner\u2019s<\/a> wife told a campaign aide during a vetting exercise last summer that she had previously found \u201csexually explicit texts with several women\u201d on his phone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amy Gertner told the campaign\u2019s then-political director Genevieve McDonald about her husband\u2019s extramarital relationships \u201cto make sure they didn\u2019t pose a risk to her husband\u2019s nascent campaign,\u201d according to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/elections\/graham-platners-wife-flagged-sexually-explicit-texts-to-his-senate-campaign-628ec832\"><em>Wall Street Journal<\/em><\/a>. Gertner and Platner got married in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/30\/us\/politics\/graham-platner-maine-senate-texts.html\">November 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4587335\/mamdani-endorses-democratic-socialist-over-adriano-espaillat\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mamdani endorses Democratic socialist over AIPAC-backed Adriano Espaillat in New York House race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4587442\/louisiana-pass-new-congressional-map\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Louisiana passes new congressional map<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4587180\/mike-johnson-chief-of-staff-leave-speaker-office\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mike Johnson\u2019s chief of staff to leave the speaker\u2019s office<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report is the latest in a long list of controversies that have plagued Platner\u2019s campaign and bid to unseat incumbent Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME). The progressive candidate has faced criticism for derogatory, since-deleted <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4576279\/graham-platner-marine-oyster-farmer-communist\/\">social media posts<\/a> and a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3859770\/maine-senate-candidate-graham-platner-nazi-tattoo-covered\/\">controversial tattoo<\/a> resembling a Nazi symbol.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner has been the presumptive Democratic nominee in the race since Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4549217\/janet-mills-drops-out-maine-senate-race-clearing-way-platner\/\">dropped out in April<\/a>. A recent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4584311\/graham-platner-lead-susan-collins-9-points-maine-senate-poll\/\">University of New Hampshire poll<\/a> has Platner up nine percentage points against Collins in a theoretical matchup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gertner said <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/30\/us\/politics\/graham-platner-maine-senate-texts.html\">in a statement<\/a> provided by the campaign that McDonald was a friend. A campaign official said aides decided the matter was ultimately private and was being handled in marriage counseling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know who Graham is,\u201d Gertner said. \u201cI know the man I married and the husband he has been to me on the best and worst days of my life. That hasn\u2019t changed, and it won\u2019t.\u201d The extramarital relationships have been confirmed by current and former campaign officials.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats see the race as a key Senate contest in November after Platner\u2019s populist, anti-establishment platform lifted him in the polls. The oyster farmer and former Marine <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4586603\/platner-collins-feud-over-iraq-war-service\/\">sparred with Collins<\/a> on Thursday about his serving in the Iraq War, and a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4588033\/graham-platner-question-armenia-genocide-reddit\/\">since-deleted Reddit comment<\/a> about the Armenian genocide surfaced Friday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4588033\/graham-platner-question-armenia-genocide-reddit\/\"><strong>GRAHAM PLATNER QUESTIONED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN NOW-DELETED REDDIT COMMENTS: REPORT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gernter confided in McDonald ahead of a Labor Day weekend campaign rally last year with Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT). <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/30\/us\/politics\/graham-platner-maine-senate-texts.html\">In a statement<\/a>, she said she was \u201cdeeply hurt\u201d by McDonald and referenced an \u201cinvasion of our privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gertner told McDonald about her knowledge of the texts just days after Platner announced his candidacy. The rally occurred as planned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Platner\u2019s wife told aide she found explicit texts on his phone during vetting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3238,"featured_media":2608669,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2273698178.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[80531,6371,36355,5894,47219],"class_list":["post-2608668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-campaign-scandal-2","tag-censorship","tag-investigative-journalism","tag-politics","tag-sexual-misconduct"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2273698178.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3238"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2608668"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2608672,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608668\/revisions\/2608672"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608669"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2608668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2608668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2608668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}