{"id":2644427,"date":"2026-08-13T13:48:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T17:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/platner-to-speak-at-first-event-after-suspending-campaign-amid-scandals\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T13:50:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T17:50:55","slug":"platner-to-speak-at-first-event-after-suspending-campaign-amid-scandals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/platner-to-speak-at-first-event-after-suspending-campaign-amid-scandals\/","title":{"rendered":"Platner to speak at first event after suspending campaign amid scandals"},"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\">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%2Fplatner-to-speak-at-first-event-after-suspending-campaign-amid-scandals%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=2644427&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>Graham Platner, a former Maine Democratic Senate nominee, is scheduled to make his first public appearance since suspending his scandal-ridden campaign.He will speak about the history of unions at a Labor Day rally on September 5. Platner had won the Democratic nomination in June with endorsements from prominent progressive senators, but soon faced allegations of sexual assault from a former girlfriend, which he denied. Additional controversies included explicit messages, social media posts, and a Nazi-like tattoo he claims was received during a drunken episode years earlier. Several women accused him of unsettling behavior and violence, complicating his political prospects. Despite leading in polls over incumbent Senator Susan Collins, the scandals led Maine Democrats to replace him with Troy Jackson just months before the election, giving him limited time to mount a campaign. Platner\u2019s campaign strategist admitted in an interview that previous issues, including Reddit posts and the tattoo, should have prompted earlier withdrawal.  <\/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\">Former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maine\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"193\">Maine<\/a> Democratic <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8765\">Senate<\/a> nominee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"22643\">Graham Platner<\/a> is set to make his first public appearance since <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4638358\/graham-platner-suspends-maine-senate-campaign\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4638358\/graham-platner-suspends-maine-senate-campaign\/\">suspending his scandal-plagued campaign<\/a> in June.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner is slated to speak about the history of unions and organized labor at a Labor Day rally on Sept. 5, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/hancockdems.org\/event\/labor-day-rally-2026\/\">according<\/a> to the Hancock County Democratic Party, marking his first public event since ending his campaign.<\/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\/4686397\/graham-platner-speak-first-event-after-suspending-maine-senate-campaign\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Graham Platner to speak at first event after suspending Maine Senate campaign<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4686373\/el-sayed-drops-mention-sanders-aoc-first-general-election-campaign-ad\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>El Sayed drops mention of Sanders and AOC in first general election campaign ad<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4686009\/troy-jackson-ad-touts-affordability-maine-senate-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Troy Jackson\u2019s new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/troy-jacksons-new-ad-touts-affordability-pitch-were-getting-screwed\/\" title=\"...&#039;s new ad touts affordability pitch: &#039;We&#039;re getting screwed&#039;\">ad touts affordability pitch<\/a>: \u2018We\u2019re getting screwed\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On June 9, Platner won the Maine Democratic Senate nomination in a landslide, securing endorsements from Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"41\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT), <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elizabeth-warren\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"250\">Elizabeth Warren<\/a> (D-MA), <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ruben-gallego\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"10230\">Ruben Gallego<\/a> (D-AZ), and Rep.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ro-khanna\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"5039\"> Ro Khanna <\/a>(D-CA), among others. Many of those lawmakers later rescinded their support.<\/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\">Less than a month later, <em>Politico<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/06\/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737\">reported<\/a> that a former girlfriend had accused Platner of rape, allegations he has denied. Platner suspended his campaign days later.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI just want to make it clear, this is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It\u2019s not real,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4638358\/graham-platner-suspends-maine-senate-campaign\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4638358\/graham-platner-suspends-maine-senate-campaign\/\">he said<\/a>, later adding, \u201cThis was the last week to try to get me off of the ballot, and that\u2019s why this is occurring.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sexual assault allegation <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4597477\/four-scandal-maine-senate-candidate-graham-platner\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4597477\/four-scandal-maine-senate-candidate-graham-platner\/\">was not the only controversy<\/a> to affect Platner\u2019s candidacy. His campaign was also hit by revelations about sexually explicit messages to women, controversial social media posts, and a tattoo resembling Nazi imagery that Platner said he received nearly two decades ago during a drunken spree without understanding its meaning.<\/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\">Three other former girlfriends also accused him of unsettling and violent behavior. Former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield disputed Platner\u2019s account of the tattoo, saying he knew its meaning and would \u201cjoke about it being a Nazi tattoo\u201d and \u201ccall it my Totenkopf.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The controversies put pressure on Democrats, who are hoping to flip the state\u2019s Senate seat as part of efforts to reclaim the chamber\u2019s majority. Despite the scandals, Platner had been polling ahead of longtime incumbent Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1302\">Susan Collins <\/a>(R-ME), fueling Democratic hopes of defeating the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"926\">Republican<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last month, Maine Democrats selected fifth-generation logger <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/troy-jackson\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23248\">Troy Jackson<\/a> to replace Platner as their nominee, giving him only a few months to build a campaign against Collins, who holds a significant fundraising advantage.<\/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\" style=\"text-transform:uppercase\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4662113\/katz-graham-platner-reddit-tattoo-campaign-ezra-klein\/\">Platner\u2019s lead strategist says his Reddit posts and Nazi-linked tattoo \u2018should have been enough\u2019 to drop him<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an interview with<em> New York Times<\/em> columnist Ezra Klein released Friday, Platner\u2019s chief strategist, Morris Katz, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4662113\/katz-graham-platner-reddit-tattoo-campaign-ezra-klein\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4662113\/katz-graham-platner-reddit-tattoo-campaign-ezra-klein\/\">said the campaign should have suspended<\/a> much earlier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn hindsight, knowing what we know now, the Reddit posts alone probably should have been enough \u2014 or should have been enough,\u201d Katz said on <em>The Ezra Klein Show<\/em>. \u201cThe tattoo should have been enough. The initial <em>New York Times<\/em> story on troubling behavior should have been enough.\u201d<\/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<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Graham Platner to speak at Labor Day rally after campaign suspension<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2644428,"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\/AP26144826648665.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4087,4864,84098,4633],"class_list":["post-2644427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-campaign","tag-event","tag-plautner","tag-scandal"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26144826648665.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2644427","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\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2644427"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2644427\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2644431,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2644427\/revisions\/2644431"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2644428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2644427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2644427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2644427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}