{"id":2613086,"date":"2026-06-10T16:57:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T20:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dems-urge-a-reluctant-party-to-coalesce-around-graham-platner\/"},"modified":"2026-06-10T16:59:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T20:59:09","slug":"dems-urge-a-reluctant-party-to-coalesce-around-graham-platner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dems-urge-a-reluctant-party-to-coalesce-around-graham-platner\/","title":{"rendered":"Dems urge a reluctant party to coalesce around Graham Platner"},"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\">20<\/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%2Fdems-urge-a-reluctant-party-to-coalesce-around-graham-platner%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=2613086&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>Democratic leaders are urging the party to rally behind maine Democratic nominee **Graham Platner** after he won the state\u2019s Senate primary, with some framing the moment as Democrats should unite the way Republicans did for **Ken Paxton**. key Democrats-including **Bernie Sanders** and **Elizabeth Warren**-argue the priority is winning a likely competitive seat, and that Platner should be embraced once he takes obligation for his personal issues.<\/p>\n<p>However, support is mixed. Several senators say the focus must be on what Maine voters decide and that Platner still has to address both personal and political concerns directly before election Day. **Peter Welch** emphasized voter concerns over lawmakers\u2019 opinions, while **Elissa Slotkin** saeid she worries additional controversies could still surface.<\/p>\n<p>no Democrat has been more publicly uneasy than **John Fetterman**, who suggested he won\u2019t defend Platner\u2019s past conduct and implied he may avoid supporting **Susan Collins** specifically because of Platner\u2019s record. Platner\u2019s campaign has portrayed media coverage of his scandals as an effort by the \u201cpolitical establishment\u201d to distract from the real choice facing voters.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, **President Donald Trump** escalated the backlash by calling Platner a \u201cthug\u201d and an \u201coutright pig,\u201d using the contrast to endorse and praise **Susan Collins** for re-election, despite past friction with her in Washington.  <\/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 Democrats want their party to offer the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4583010\/republicans-fall-in-line-ken-paxton-victory\/\">Ken Paxton treatment<\/a> to Graham Platner after <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4601303\/collins-platner-maine-senate-primary-results\/\">clinching Maine\u2019s Democratic nomination<\/a> for Senate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hungry to oust longtime centrist Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME), early supporters of the embattled progressive candidate say it\u2019s time their <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >colleagues drop lingering skepticism<\/a> over personal baggage to embrace the party\u2019s best chance at winning the toss-up seat.<\/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\/4603187\/senate-democrats-urge-reluctant-party-embrace-platner\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate Democrats urge a reluctant party to embrace Platner<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4602645\/graham-platner-thug-pig-trump\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump says Graham Platner is a \u2018thug\u2019 and a \u2018pig\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4602222\/graham-platner-fires-back-they-want-to-talk-about-me-not-maine\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Graham Platner fires back: \u2018They want to talk about me, not Maine\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf Democrats want to win the Senate, as I\u2019m sure they do, I think they\u2019re going to rally around the Democratic nominee in Maine,\u201d Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey need to coalesce,\u201d Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said. \u201cHe has taken responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An eagerness for Democrats to embrace Platner, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-confirms-trump-cia-director-ahead-of-weekend-votes-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"... confirms Trump CIA director ahead of weekend ...s - ...\">scandal-plagued nominee<\/a>, resembles <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4583010\/republicans-fall-in-line-ken-paxton-victory\/\">Republicans falling in line<\/a> for the Trump-endorsed Paxton after ousting leadership-backed Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in the competitive Texas Senate race. But even as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Democrats\u2019 campaign arm extend a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CHueyBurns\/status\/2064543866938626497?s=20\">lukewarm embrace<\/a>, there remains a greater reluctance among some to champion Platner in the way Republicans quickly did for Paxton after months of vehemently opposing him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt just doesn\u2019t matter what I think. It literally doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d said Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT).  \u201cIt matters what the voters in Maine think, and the challenge that Platner has is the challenge that any candidate has. It is to address, in a direct way, both personal and political issues that are legitimate questions for the voters. He\u2019s got to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Welch added: \u201cUntil the election is over, he\u2019s got work to do every day and every way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) described Platner as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-grants-26-pardons-and-3-commutations-includes-numerous-prominent-names\/\" title=\"Trump Grants 26 Pardons And 3 Commutations, Includes Numerous Prominent Names\">key player<\/a> to winning back the Senate so Democrats can challenge the Trump administration. But she also expressed anxieties that there could be more yet-to-be-unearthed skeletons for the insurgent nominee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI just hope we\u2019re \u2014 I\u2019m \u2014 not caught again live on TV answering the same questions about bad behavior,\u201d Slotkin said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Democrat most eager to talk about Platner, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), is perhaps the nominee\u2019s strongest opponent within the party over his past transgressions that have come to light on the campaign trail. Those include a Nazi tattoo, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/disney-faces-massive-backlash-for-firing-gina-carano-as-cancel-disney-plus-trends-1-critics-bring-up-companys-history\/\" title=\"Disney Faces Massive Backlash For Firing Gina Carano As \u2018Cancel Disney Plus\u2019 Trends #1, Critics Bring Up Company\u2019s History\">offensive social media posts<\/a>, an extramarital sexting scandal, and allegedly toxic former romantic relationships.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI will be the one Democrat to never defend and pretend that he isn\u2019t an absolute mess and a disgrace as a candidate,\u201d Fetterman told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, suggesting he\u2019ll stay neutral and not support Collins. \u201cThe only thing that keeps him alive politically is that there happens to be a \u2018D\u2019 at the end of his name.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, left, join hands at an event in Orono, Maine, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner won the Tuesday primary against Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME), who suspended her campaign in late April, with roughly 72% of the vote. In his victory speech, he painted reporting on his scandals as an attempt by the \u201cpolitical establishment\u201d to distract voters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd they will try to make this race about everything other than what it absolutely is: a simple choice for who will represent us in the United States Senate,\u201d Platner told supporters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4602702\/trump-endorse-susan-collins-maine\/\">TRUMP BACKS SUSAN COLLINS FOR REELECTION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President Donald Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4602645\/graham-platner-thug-pig-trump\/\">lambasted Platner<\/a> Wednesday as a \u201cthug\u201d and an \u201coutright pig\u201d while <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4602702\/trump-endorse-susan-collins-maine\/\">endorsing Collins<\/a> for a sixth term, despite frequently butting heads with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-democrats-urge-a-reluctant-party-to-coalesce-around-graham-platner\/\" title=\"... urge a ... to coalesce around ...\">powerful swing-vote senator<\/a> who doubles as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe\u2019s a sane woman, and she\u2019s a respected person, maybe a little different ideology than me,\u201d Trump praised Collins, before turning to criticism of Platner. \u201cBut this guy is a thug, he\u2019s a fake, he\u2019s a fake thug, he\u2019s a phony. \u2026 I made a lot of money picking out phonies. He\u2019s a real phony, he\u2019s bad, he\u2019s a bad person.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Christian Datoc and Mabinty Quarshie contributed to this report. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senate Democrats push \u201cPaxton-style\u201d backing of Graham Platner<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2613087,"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\/AP26144826991753.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3685,34541,65649,35042,40204],"class_list":["post-2613086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democrats","tag-election-strategy","tag-graham-platner","tag-party-unity","tag-political-advocacy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26144826991753.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613086","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\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2613086"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613086\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2613090,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613086\/revisions\/2613090"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2613087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2613086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2613086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2613086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}