{"id":2609802,"date":"2026-06-02T19:58:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T23:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/platner-makes-democrats-squirm-with-blitz-through-dc\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T20:00:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T00:00:42","slug":"platner-makes-democrats-squirm-with-blitz-through-dc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/platner-makes-democrats-squirm-with-blitz-through-dc\/","title":{"rendered":"Platner makes Democrats squirm with blitz through DC"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/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%2Fplatner-makes-democrats-squirm-with-blitz-through-dc%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=2609802&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>Senate Democratic leaders are staying with graham platner as thier presumptive nominee in Maine despite concerns raised by a recent extramarital \u201csexting\u201d scandal. Chuck Schumer and kirsten Gillibrand met with Platner but offered few specifics, repeating support for his candidacy and for defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.<\/p>\n<p>The endorsement was only solidified after Gov. Janet Mills dropped out in April,and party unity remains strained. Mills is still on the ballot, and Schumer declined to say whether she should return to the race. Platner\u2019s allies say his Washington trip was planned before the scandal broke, aiming to reassure skeptics about electability.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats\u2019 worry is driven by a pattern of controversies around Platner-beyond the texting allegations, including earlier issues such as a Nazi-like chest tattoo and offensive online posts. At the DSCC and senator meetings, many leaders avoided taking a hard public stance on how well Platner addressed the fallout, though a small group of progressives defended him, arguing opponents\u2019 outside spending could be intense and that Maine voters-not Washington insiders-will decide.<\/p>\n<p>Still, there was notable dissent: Sen. John Fetterman mocked the scandal, compared Platner to disgraced former Rep.Eric Swalwell, and drew on the \u201cswipe\u201d of past Democratic failures, stopping short of explicitly calling for Platner to withdraw.  <\/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\">Senate Democratic leadership is grudgingly sticking with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\">Graham Platner<\/a>, their presumptive nominee in Maine, after a whirlwind tour through Washington, D.C., meant to ease concerns over a new <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4588537\/platner-wife-sexually-explicit-texts-aide\/\">extramarital \u201csexting\u201d scandal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) gave <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4592115\/schumer-graham-platner-meeting-senate\/\">scant details<\/a> about his Tuesday meeting with Platner, but he told reporters that he supported his candidacy the fifth time he was asked about the race and Platner\u2019s political baggage.<\/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\/4591938\/graham-platner-makes-senate-democrats-squirm-blitz-dc\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Graham Platner makes Senate Democrats squirm with blitz through DC<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4592108\/jimmy-gomez-under-investigation-sexual-misconduct-report\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rep. Jimmy Gomez under investigation over sexual misconduct, report says<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4592115\/schumer-graham-platner-meeting-senate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Schumer snubs questions about Graham Platner after meeting with embattled Senate hopeful<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs I said, I endorsed Graham Platner,\u201d Schumer said at his weekly press conference. \u201cWe\u2019re going to beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), the chairwoman of Senate Democrats\u2019 campaign arm, similarly sidestepped questions after a meeting with Platner but told reporters she was \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/igorbobic\/status\/2061912180723728773?s=20\">very optimistic<\/a>\u201d the party will defeat Collins, a five-term incumbent and the only Republican to hold statewide office in Maine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schumer only came around to Platner after his preferred candidate, Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME), dropped out of the race in April. And their alliance is still tenuous. Platner is one of several Democrats who are calling for new leadership in Washington.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schumer declined to say if he wished that Mills would resurrect her campaign, as she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4590167\/janet-mills-hints-resurrect-maine-senate-bid-graham-platner-scandals\/\">hinted she might<\/a> on Monday after reports of Platner\u2019s infidelity began to emerge. Platner is expected to become the party\u2019s nominee in Maine\u2019s June 9 primary, but Mills remains on the ballot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Platner campaign says his trip to Washington was scheduled before a bombshell report alleging that Platner sent at least half a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >dozen women sexually explicit text messages early<\/a> in his marriage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the timing of the report quickly sent Platner into damage-control mode, and his allies hoped the trip would give him a chance to calm doubts about the viability of his campaign. Polls show Platner ahead by as much as <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\/\">9 points<\/a> against Collins, but he has been the subject of repeated controversies that Democrats fear will sink their chances of winning a blue state this fall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier in his campaign, Platner was forced to cover up a chest tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol and apologize for online posts that downplayed rape and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-platner-tackles-scandal-with-familiar-strategy-deny-distract-attack\/\" title=\"... tackles ... with familiar strategy: Deny, distract, attack\">insulted black people<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think it\u2019s important that he does meet with senators and with other people, and really show confidence and explain how this is not going to affect his race and how he\u2019s still going to win,\u201d Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), one of the Democrats supporting Platner, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to Senate leadership, Platner huddled with rank-and-file Democrats at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee headquarters on Tuesday afternoon. He did not take questions from the press after a two-hour meeting, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/igorbobic\/status\/2061919135785722030?s=20\">according to<\/a> <em>NOTUS<\/em>, and senators were generally tight-lipped about whether he had adequately addressed the texting scandal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Few were willing to publicly defend him outside of a small group of progressives aligned with his politics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a Platner supporter, pointed to the money being spent in Maine to preserve Collins\u2019s Senate seat when asked about the concern being expressed by some Democrats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere are some concerns that some of the wealthiest people in this country, in their Republican super PACs, are prepared to spend $100 million in the state of Maine,\u201d Sanders told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cWhy do we think that Republican super PACs controlled by billionaires want to spend an extraordinary amount of money to defeat Graham Platner? That\u2019s a good reason to vote for him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other senators wanted to stay out of the infighting altogether.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think, ultimately, the people of Maine are going to decide who\u2019s going to represent them in the Senate,\u201d said Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a vice chairman of the DSCC.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMaine Democrats are going to decide the nominee,\u201d Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), one of the Senate Democrats to meet with Platner, told the <em>Washington Examiner. <\/em>\u201cIt\u2019s not for the \u2018party\u2019 to decide, it\u2019s for the Maine voters to decide.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was one glaring exception among Senate Democrats. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) went so far as to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4591467\/fetterman-compares-platner-sexting-scandal-eric-swalwell\/\">compare Platner to disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell<\/a>, who resigned from office and suspended his campaign for California governor in April after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-add-bill-clintons-wife-to-womens-history-month-collage-after-critics-complain\/\" title=\"... Add Bill Clinton\u2019s Wife to Women\u2019s History Month Collage After Critics Complain\">multiple women accused<\/a> him of sexual misconduct. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s \u201cso much bizarre and tacky and gross stuff that you lose count,\u201d Fetterman told reporters, while stopping short of calling on Platner to drop out.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s like you need to have like a bingo card.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although Platner has not been accused of sexual misconduct, Fetterman repeatedly mocked Platner as \u201cphustle,\u201d the username he used on an app known for sexual encounters.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, greets supporters after speaking at an event hosted by Sen. Bernie Sanders in Orono, Maine, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m saying that the last time Democrats leaned in on a guy that was sending those kinds of messages to women, I think that was like Swalwell.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4591467\/fetterman-compares-platner-sexting-scandal-eric-swalwell\/\"><strong>FETTERMAN COMPARES PLATNER\u2019S SEXTING SCANDAL TO ERIC SWALWELL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Democrats who attended the campaign headquarters meeting with Platner included progressives such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), another DSCC vice chairman, was also in attendance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner was reportedly set to attend a fundraiser hosted by former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain on his swing through Washington.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Schumer backs Graham Platner after D.C. trip amid sexting scandal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3204,"featured_media":2609803,"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\/06\/AP26145002882687_b29ed3.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[42236,41291,3685,34541,32171],"class_list":["post-2609802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-campaign-blitz","tag-dc-politics","tag-democrats","tag-election-strategy","tag-political-commentary"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26145002882687_b29ed3.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609802","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\/3204"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2609802"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609802\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2609807,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609802\/revisions\/2609807"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2609803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2609802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2609802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2609802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}