Local voters mixed on Platner allegations

Recent claims by former campaign staffer have roiled Maine’s senate race

June 3, 2026

By Jessi Hardy

Gubernatorial candidate Graham Platner’s campaign faced a new crisis this week with allegations about explicit messages to women roiling his campaign just days before the primary on June 9.

Platner, a resident of Sullivan who was born in Blue Hill, is facing accusations of texting sexually explicit messages to multiple women shortly after his marriage to his wife, Amy Gertner. The claims, which were reported this past weekend by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, surfaced after former campaign manager Genevieve McDonald of Stonington provided screenshots of a private conversation with Gertner to The New York Times.

The Rising Tide asked residents if the new allegations would change how they vote.

Here’s what voters say:

Brenda Horton, Blue Hill

“It doesn’t help at all but we don’t really have anyone else to vote for. I think Collins is going to get back in, but I’m going to vote for Graham. I mean, don’t we all have a past?”

Rob Ladd, Brooksville

“I never would have voted for him anyways, so I don’t care what he’s done.”

Beth Cousins, Brooksville

“All the noise around things that he said and has supposedly done has clouded or drowned out what his stances are and what he stands for. I have no idea what he stands for. I don’t know where all this […] noise is coming from. So, the noise needs to go away and we can understand what he’s about as a candidate.” 

Thérèse Grindle, Blue Hill

“I like him. He's honest. That's so rare today in politics. He's messed up, he owned up, and now is working hard to make up for sins of the past. I love his accountability and his willingness to fight for those of us who work hard but it's never enough.”

Margery Varnum, Sedgwick

“No, it doesn’t. I wasn’t going to vote for him anyway.” 

Ann Rioux, Blue Hill

“I find it appalling that Graham and Amy’s personal, very private marital struggles were exposed for the entire world to hear and see. It frankly takes away from the real issues, the important ones that Graham is fighting for. To sink to this level tells me that the Platner campaign’s opponents are feeling the heat. Mainers are standing with Graham and Amy, knowing that positive change is coming. We will not be deterred by mean spirited tactics. I feel sad for the situation but also hopeful, because I know most Mainers will see through this and elect Graham Platner as our next Maine senator.”

Sylvia Tapley, Penobscot

“For me it’s the issues. When Clinton had his Lewinsky affair and lied about it I removed his picture from my classroom. Not because of the affair but because he lied. Yet he was a good president in many ways. People voted for Trump even after he said, “Grab her by the p***y”, made fun of a disabled man, and cheated on all of his wives. Never has he taken responsibility for anything he has ever done. Graham, who has suffered from PTSD, has owned his sh*t and is committed to therapy. He’s a flawed person. He’s taken responsibility. All of our presidents have had complex layers because like us they’re human. It’s the ones who pretend to be something they’re not that you have to watch out for.”

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