{"id":2611664,"date":"2026-06-07T11:13:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T15:13:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/unease-and-hostility-meets-defiant-support-as-maine-residents-grapple-with-graham-platner-allegations\/"},"modified":"2026-06-07T11:14:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T15:14:52","slug":"unease-and-hostility-meets-defiant-support-as-maine-residents-grapple-with-graham-platner-allegations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/unease-and-hostility-meets-defiant-support-as-maine-residents-grapple-with-graham-platner-allegations\/","title":{"rendered":"Unease and hostility meets defiant support as Maine residents grapple with Graham Platner allegations"},"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\">28<\/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%2Funease-and-hostility-meets-defiant-support-as-maine-residents-grapple-with-graham-platner-allegations%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=2611664&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>People in Ogunquit, Maine are reacting with unease to allegations about Democratic Senate candidate graham Platner uncovered in <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >recent reporting-notably claims<\/a> from former girlfriends about his relationships, including an account by Lyndsey Fifield that Platner denies (along with controversy over sexting). The article says a \u201cWomen for Graham\u201d flyer has still been mailed to voters, but the fallout appears to have shaken Platner\u2019s momentum after he was previously positioned to win the democratic primary against Maine Gov. Janet mills, who the piece notes has been \u201cunsuspended\u201d and remains on the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the brewing damage to Platner, the article finds mixed reactions among Democrats: some worry more revelations could surface before the general election and harm the party\u2019s effort to remove Republican Sen.Susan Collins, while others think Mills could still benefit from voters who won\u2019t support Platner. Local supporters and critics are sharply divided-some argue Platner\u2019s character is disqualifying, while others say he has taken responsibility and that his personal issues may matter less then the partisan stakes of the broader race. Political observers quoted in the piece believe the sexting controversy could further erode Platner\u2019s ability to maintain support.  <\/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\"><strong>OGUNQUIT, Maine \u2014 <\/strong>Within days of the <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/04\/us\/politics\/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/04\/us\/politics\/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html\">New York Times<\/a><\/em>  trawling through Maine Senate hopeful <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"22643\">Graham Platner\u2019s<\/a> volatile past relationships, the campaign\u2019s latest flyer, prominently displaying a supporter waving a \u201cWomen for Graham\u201d sign, arrived in voters\u2019 mailboxes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner had been coasting to a win in Tuesday\u2019s primary, with his opponent for the Democratic nomination, Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) seemingly having thrown in the towel.<\/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\/4597477\/four-scandal-maine-senate-candidate-graham-platner\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Four scandals Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4596773\/graham-platner-rise-mamdani-moraff-katz-fan\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>From a Mamdani guru to a card-carrying Democratic Socialist, here\u2019s who\u2019s helping Platner<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4597893\/trump-alabama-back-barry-moore-gop-senate-primary\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump urges Alabama to back Barry Moore as polls show tight GOP Senate primary<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A raft of allegations by former girlfriends has upended the campaign, with polls showing Platner\u2019s lead over the Republican incumbent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1302\">Sen. Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME) plunging.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There has been little respite in recent days with controversy still swirling over former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield\u2019s graphic account of their relationship, including allegations he could be physically aggressive \u2014 allegations Platner denied.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/states-say-bidens-plan-for-ev-charging-stations-makes-no-sense\/\" title=\"States Say Biden&#039;s Plan for EV Charging Stations Makes No Sense\">sparsely populated state<\/a> with only four votes in the Electoral College, Maine punches above its weight politically, which is reflected in the $300 million spent already by the campaigns and dark money Political Action Committees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking to voters over the weekend from the picturesque resort town of Ogunquit, the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> found an air of unease among some, in one case downright hostility, and in others defiant support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One unlikely beneficiary could be the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"384\">Chuck Schumer<\/a>-backed Mills, who <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4596931\/the-clock-ticks-janet-mills-shadow-campaign\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4596931\/the-clock-ticks-janet-mills-shadow-campaign\/\">\u201cunsuspended\u201d her campaign<\/a> last week and will be on the ballot on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She will get the vote of Kevin Flaherty, the first mate on The Gift, a sailing boat which offers pleasure trips to tourists in the coastal resort of Ogunquit<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI am voting for Janet Mills; people don\u2019t remember she is still on the ballot,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis Graham guy, to me, he looks like a white supremacist with a Democratic sign on top of his head, and I like Janet; she\u2019s proving herself, and I\u2019m with her.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Janet Mills will get the vote of Kevin Flaherty, the first mate on The Gift, a sailing boat which offers pleasure trips to tourists in the coastal resort of Ogunquit (David Millward)<br \/><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Steve Perkins, The Gift\u2019s skipper, remained firmly on Team Platner, contrasting the treatment he had received with as he saw it, the free pass given to President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA Democrat has a portion of their life where they made a mistake, then they\u2019re completely knocked out of it. That\u2019s ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve Perkins, the Gift\u2019s skipper, remained firmly on Team Platner, contrasting the treatment he had received with as he saw it, the free pass given to Donald Trump. (David Millward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democratic unease was reflected by Julian Rogers, a party activist, who fears there will be more allegations should Platner make it through Tuesday\u2019s primary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe latest revelations about his sexting and the old girlfriend stories have me a bit rattled. Not because I want him to lose the primary, but I am deeply concerned about what opposition research will uncover as we approach the general.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe sexting thing is what really worries me if the texts themselves will be revealed and the women he interacted with start talking. There is so much at stake in this election and the fact that we must\u00a0remove Susan Collins.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m worried but hopeful. I am also disappointed in the schism it has caused among my fellow Democrats. I\u2019m not sure how many of those insisting on purity vs. those willing to dismiss it all and the arguments that have surfaced, have taken note of how that schism can affect down ballot races because the fighting is so public.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He believes the revelations could see a late surge in support for Mills.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTechnically, I don\u2019t believe she really has a chance, but she will get a lot of votes from people who are not Platner supporters.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere are people who I think really wanted her to be the nominee, and they will have a hard, hard time separating themselves from the fact that she is now still on the ballot and that he has had a number of issues come up that have really unsellable.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Democratic unease was reflected by Julian Rogers, a party activist, who is concerned what further opposition research will emerge after the primary (David Millward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But even in a town, a resort with a strong artistic tradition which leans heavily Democratic,\u00a0Platner has some fierce critics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rick Dolliver, a lobsterman who also runs a popular bar in the town, gave a withering verdict on the Democratic hopeful.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGraham Platner has a long history of hatred, bigotry and dishonesty. He\u2019s lied about his upbringing. He\u2019s lied about school history. He\u2019s lied about his finances. He\u2019s lied about his relationships,\u201d he told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe claims PTSD, it might really be a serious mental disorder about telling the truth and being honest. Is that someone you want to represent you in Washington? Is this someone you want your kids to look up to?<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe way he\u2019s treated women and then turns it around and blames them for other people\u2019s actions. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe should come clean and drop from the race immediately. You may not love every vote Susan Collins has made or supported, but for 10,000 consecutive votes, she\u2019s told the truth and has nothing to hide or be ashamed of.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grant Hubbard, another lobsterman, was ready to cut Platner some slack. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s a pretty decent guy with a few rough edges, but don\u2019t they all? Certainly better than what we have now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And Amy Kelly, who runs an art gallery, praised his willingness to take responsibility for his past behavior.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think that he has shared his remorse on his old mistakes, and as well as his coming out of mistakes recently,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI do believe that I am a 12-stepper, and I do believe that he\u2019s repented enough, and he will be a great candidate for senator\u00a0for the state of Maine. I do believe that the good people will shine through and the unwell people will not shine through.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Amy Kelly, who runs an art gallery, praised Platner\u2019s willingness to take responsibility for his past behavior. (David Millward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Artist Meredith Reynolds believed Platner\u2019s past paled into insignificance when compared with his opponents.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen you consider the people who is running against in the fact that they\u2019ve been funding a genocide \u2014 that\u2019s just way more offensive to me, so his personal problems affects how I view as a person, but it\u2019s not going to affect how I view this race in terms of his opposition.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Meredith Reynolds, believed Platner\u2019s past paled into insignificance when compared with his opponents.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you consider the people who is running against in the fact that they\u2019ve been funding a genocide that\u2019s just way more offensive to me so his personal problems affects how I view as a person but it\u2019s not going to affect how I view this race in terms of his opposition.\u201d (David Millward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Erin Gott, the harbormaster, seemed weary about the entire business. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI get the headlines of the different scandals and the things that he\u2019s been wrapped up in with; I know that there are people that I respect that seem to support him, so I have some interest in knowing more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut I\u2019m so tired of scandals in general between the administration we have now federally. I\u2019d like to ideally have someone in all forms of power that we just kind of seen with a sound head on their shoulders.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Erin Gott, the harbormaster, seemed weary about the entire business. (David Millward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">James Melcher, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/higher-education\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"149\">professor of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-democrat-introduces-bill-to-ban-trump-from-capitol-for-life\/\" title=\"House Democrat Introduces Bill to Ban Trump from Capitol for Life\">political science<\/a><\/a> at the University of Maine Farmington, believes the sexting scandal will do some damage to the Platner campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s always been able to convince his supporters, and say \u2018hey, I served our country, it left me with PTSD, I wrote a lot of things that were part of my sorting out of that process.\u2019 <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4598189\/graham-platner-fires-back-fetterman-hoodie\/\"><strong>GRAHAM PLATNER FIRES BACK AT FETTERMAN: \u2018IT\u2019S NOT THE HOODIE, DUDE\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd I think a lot of his supporters said, well, yeah, we have sympathy for him for that. We can forgive those things. That\u2019s not who he is now. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think that because these are things that have come out about his behavior so much recently, both the sexting and the New York Times article, I think that has the potential to gnaw at that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>OGUNQUIT, Maine &#8211; A \u201cWomen for Graham\u201d flyer arrived as voters read NYT coverage of Platner\u2019s past; he led in Tuesday\u2019s primary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4317,"featured_media":2611665,"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\/mainers-collage-e1780841075550.jpg?1780826703&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5609,80969,75996,9148,21733],"class_list":["post-2611664","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-allegations","tag-community-support-2","tag-graham-platner-2","tag-maine","tag-unease"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/mainers-collage-e1780841075550.jpg?1780826703&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611664","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\/4317"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2611664"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611664\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2611668,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611664\/revisions\/2611668"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2611665"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2611664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2611664"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2611664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}