Senate Democrats are still digesting a report with new allegations surrounding a candidate running for Senate in Maine whom Democrats hope will help them recapture the majority come November.
But at least one Democratic senator, who conceded she had yet to read The New York Times’ report on Graham Platner, is sick of talking about alleged bad behavior by men.
“I look forward to the day where I am not answering every single week a question about bad behavior by another dude,” Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., told MS NOW’s Nicolle Wallace Thursday night.
Platner, 41, is facing a fresh round of allegations after several of his former girlfriends accused him of “toxic,” “unsettling” and “violent” behavior days before Maine’s June 9 primary. The new allegations were first reported Thursday by the Times. The article was based on interviews with more than two dozen people, including six women who dated Platner.
“First of all, I think about the women who are coming forward,” Slotkin told MS NOW, noting that her staff informed her of the Times’ reporting. “Second of all, I think if there are allegations of violence, I got a real problem with that, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or Republican. If there’s violence, that’s not okay.”
Platner denied “anything alleging physicality” in an interview with MS NOW’s Chris Hayes on Thursday night.
He also pushed back on concerns voiced by Slotkin, telling Hayes, “My response is that I agree, but those allegations are false.”
In the Times’ report, some women offered positive accounts, describing Platner as caring and supportive. But three former partners recounted turbulent relationships with Platner, alleging he was demeaning toward women, drank heavily and was frequently unfaithful. In one instance, one woman recalled he also made physical threats.
One of the accusers, Lyndsey Fifield, recalled two specific incidents where she alleged Platner was physical with her. Fifield said Platner pulled her by her wrist out of a taxicab in once incident and in another, she alleged Platner twisted her arm and trapped her in a bedroom.
Platner’s campaign told the Times he “strongly disputes” allegations that he physically intimidated or threatened anyone.
The allegations have tested Democratic support for a candidate viewed as the party’s strongest challenger to incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said the new allegations reinforced his concerns.
“I did not see that coming … he’s like in Texas, for every ranch you see, there’s another 50 you won’t,” Fetterman told NOTUS. “He lied about his Nazi tattoo and assured people there wouldn’t be more. He just came here a day ago and said nothing more, nothing more, and then so this, so nothing’s changed for me.”
Speaking to NOTUS, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., called the report “troubling,” adding it’s “up to the voters of Maine to decide.”
Platner met privately with Senate Democrats on Tuesday as questions swirled about his personal conduct. Despite the controversies, several progressive leaders, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have continued to support Platner’s candidacy.









