{"id":2626415,"date":"2026-07-08T06:46:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T10:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-point-fingers-over-graham-platners-ascent\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T06:52:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T10:52:29","slug":"democrats-point-fingers-over-graham-platners-ascent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-point-fingers-over-graham-platners-ascent\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats point fingers over Graham Platner&#8217;s ascent"},"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\">14<\/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%2Fdemocrats-point-fingers-over-graham-platners-ascent%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=2626415&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>Democrats are currently dealing with the fallout from Graham PlatnerS recent scandal as they try too manage the situation in Maine\u2019s Senate race.platner, a candidate with a troubling past including allegations of sexual assault, <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>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lincoln-projects-social-media-influence-has-plummeted-analyses-show\/\" title=\"Lincoln Project\u2019s Social Media Influence Has Plummeted, Analyses Show\">inappropriate relationships<\/a>, has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-new-york-gov-andrew-cuomo-failed-to-account-for-4100-nursing-home-deaths\/\" title=\"Report: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Failed to Account for 4,100 Nursing Home Deaths\">faced increasing scrutiny<\/a> and calls to withdraw. The controversy has cast doubt on how he was able to be nominated despite his baggage, with some party members criticizing the recruitment process and vetting procedures. The race was seen as a crucial possibility for Democrats to flip a Republican seat, especially against Senator Susan Collins, but the emerging scandals threaten that prospect. There is debate within the party about who bears responsibility-Platner himself for running with known issues, or the party leadership, notably Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, for selecting and supporting him despite warning signs. Experts suggest the Democratic Party needs better candidate vetting processes to prevent similar issues in future races. The situation also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-try-existential-threat-message-with-texas-redistricting\/\" title=\"... try &#039;existential threat&#039; message with Texas redistricting\">highlights broader frustrations<\/a> with political outsider candidates and the challenges in scrutinizing new candidates effectively. As Democrats consider their next steps and potential replacements, the focus remains on repairing credibility and unifying behind a viable nominee.  <\/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\">As <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\">Democrats<\/a> scramble to contain the fallout from <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<\/a>\u2018s latest scandal, an increasingly bitter blame game has broken out over who failed to stop his rise before one of the party\u2019s most important <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\">Senate<\/a> races. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4637858\/sexual-assault-allegation-fractures-platner-faithful-online-following\/\">new allegation<\/a> accusing Platner of forcing a former girlfriend to have sex after she told him to stop plunged Democrats\u2019 top pickup opportunity into crisis, prompting prominent allies to abandon the nominee and fueling expectations that he will withdraw before Maine\u2019s July 13 deadline to be replaced on the ballot. <\/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\/4639270\/marjorie-taylor-greene-says-americans-are-angry-with-both-parties\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Marjorie Taylor Greene says Americans are \u2018angry\u2019 with both parties<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4638806\/joe-manchin-warned-joe-biden-that-his-staff-was-taking-him-too-far-left-in-2020\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Joe Manchin warned Joe Biden that his staff was taking him too far left in 2020<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4638499\/sanders-quiet-on-platner-sexual-assault-allegations\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Bernie Sanders quiet on Graham Platner sexual assault allegations<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The allegation was the latest in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4638610\/guy-benson-graham-platner-allegations-maine-senate-race\/\">a string of controversies<\/a> that had already shadowed Platner\u2019s campaign. The <em>New York Times<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/04\/us\/politics\/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html\">previously reported<\/a> allegations involving volatile relationships with former girlfriends, including one woman who alleged an argument became physical, which Platner denied. He also faced scrutiny over a tattoo associated with a Nazi symbol, sexually explicit messages sent shortly after his marriage, and old Reddit posts suggesting sexual assault victims should \u201ctake some responsibility for themselves,\u201d comments he later apologized for. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, Democrats are asking how a candidate carrying so much baggage became the party\u2019s nominee in one of their best opportunities to flip a Republican-held Senate seat. Former Maine Democratic gubernatorial candidate Adam Cote said he was less surprised by the latest allegation than by how long Platner managed to survive politically without his support faltering.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI was surprised that it took this long,\u201d Cote said. \u201cAny other candidate that I have seen in Maine politics that had anything remotely close to some of these early issues \u2026 that would have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, Cote said many Democrats looked beyond Platner\u2019s controversies because of the extraordinary pressure to defeat Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) after years of failed attempts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere was a unique piece about the urgency of this race from a national perspective,\u201d he said. Platner was viewed as \u201csuch a fiery speaker and a populist\u201d that many Democrats believed he could build a movement capable of winning despite mounting controversies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> When asked who bears responsibility, Cote said the answer begins with Platner himself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPlatner, for one, for running, knowing that all of these skeletons were in the closet,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s first and foremost.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But he also argued the broader political climate created an environment in which outsider candidates increasingly benefit from running against the political establishment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHaving the national party sort of dictate what ought to be done definitely rubs Mainers the wrong way,\u201d Cote said. \u201cCombined with Platner\u2019s charisma and populist message, he said, that helped create \u201cthis type of situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within the Democratic Party, however, there is little agreement over who deserves the most blame. Some Democrats argue Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) recognized the risks from the beginning and deserves credit for unsuccessfully trying to steer the party toward Gov. Janet Mills.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSchumer warned us of this. We did not listen,\u201d a senior Democratic aide said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Others argue Schumer\u2019s efforts to recruit Mills inadvertently fueled the antiestablishment backlash that helped propel Platner\u2019s candidacy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s to blame for Platner\u2019s rise as much as the broader anti-incumbent sentiment,\u201d one Democratic operative said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal party deliberations. \u201cHe ends up inadvertently elevating the people he\u2019s trying to take down.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schumer\u2019s office did not respond to a request for comment. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, others contend Schumer deserves more credit than criticism.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe party was aware there were serious red flags,\u201d a senior Democratic operative involved in midterm campaigns said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. \u201cThe calculus here is that this is a must-win seat, and the safer-bet candidate is the best bet when the Senate is on the line. I don\u2019t say this often, but I think in this case some people owe Chuck Schumer an apology.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Matt Bennett, executive vice president of the center-left think tank Third Way, said many Democrats had feared additional revelations would emerge after the first wave of scandals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt seemed blindingly obvious to those of us who had skepticism about Platner that the likelihood is that worse was yet to come,\u201d Bennett said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking back, Bennett said Democrats made mistakes by placing too much emphasis on persuading Mills to run instead of cultivating a broader bench of candidates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think, in retrospect, it was a mistake to put all of our cards on Janet Mills,\u201d Bennett said. \u201cShe\u2019s a good governor, but a 78-year-old governor just was not what the moment called for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, he argued the greatest responsibility lies with those who first recruited Platner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think the principal blame resides with the people that recruited this guy to run for Senate and then gaslit us for months about the extent of the problems,\u201d Bennett said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several Democratic strategists said the episode also exposes shortcomings in how parties evaluate first-time candidates before elevating them to high-profile races.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere has to be a better way of vetting candidates,\u201d Democratic strategist Brad Bannon said, comparing Platner\u2019s rise with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton\u2019s success despite years of legal and ethical controversies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bannon argued that as voters increasingly distrust traditional institutions, neither party has found an effective replacement for the role newspapers, party organizations, and establishment figures once played in scrutinizing candidates before they reached the national stage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democratic strategist Jon Reinish said campaigns need more exhaustive reviews of candidates\u2019 backgrounds before encouraging them to seek major office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis failure has 1,000 parents,\u201d Reinish said. He <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >argued proper vetting requires exhaustive reviews<\/a> of candidates\u2019 social media histories and difficult conversations designed to uncover possibly damaging information before opponents or reporters do.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cote said Democrats now face another challenge beyond replacing Platner: convincing voters the process used to select his successor is legitimate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re going to need to see a process that is viewed as credible,\u201d he said. \u201cThen we\u2019re going to need to see a candidate that emerges that can unify the party and also appeal to the broader base of voters.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4639117\/progressives-graham-platner-aide-alternative-new-dust-up-schumer-troy-jackson\/\"><strong>PROGRESSIVES RUSH TO FIND PLATNER ALTERNATIVE IN NEW DUST-UP WITH SCHUMER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether Democrats can still mount a serious challenge against Collins remains uncertain. But even before the party settles on its next nominee, Democrats are already engaged in a debate over how they arrived at this moment and what lessons the party should take from one of its most consequential candidate collapses of the 2026 cycle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf somebody\u2019s running for office for the first time for a post as important as U.S. Senate, we better do a better job of vetting them and looking into their backgrounds,\u201d Bennett said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats blame each other over Maine Senate candidate scandal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2626416,"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\/07\/AP26188598290237.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3685,65649,82384,82385,36160],"class_list":["post-2626415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-democrats","tag-graham-platner","tag-leadership-debate","tag-party-rivalry","tag-political-controversy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26188598290237.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626415","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\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2626415"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626415\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2626420,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626415\/revisions\/2626420"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2626416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2626415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2626415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2626415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}