Democrats aren\u2019t done debating Graham Platner.<\/p>\n

Platner\u2019s decisive victory in Maine\u2019s Democratic Senate primary<\/a> quelled for now any serious discussion that he could be replaced as the party\u2019s nominee in the wake of a recent bout of scandals. The party\u2019s campaign arms were quick to indicate support for him<\/a> after the race was called Tuesday night. Progressives took a victory lap while arguing their colleagues need to coalesce around the Maine nominee.<\/p>\n

But a small yet notable faction of Capitol Hill Democrats still has qualms about the oysterman\u2019s tumultuous past that has rattled some Maine voters<\/a> \u2014 and what it could mean for their chances of defeating Sen. Susan Collins and taking back the upper chamber in November.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, several senators stopped short of outright endorsing Platner when asked by Blue Light News.<\/p>\n

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a potential 2028 contender who has kept his distance from Platner so far, said he thought Platner can defeat Collins and that \u201cthe path for us winning back control of the Senate runs through Maine.\u201d But he still declined to endorse Platner, saying that he\u2019d yet to meet or speak with the nominee. Asked whether Platner had done enough to address his scandals, Kelly said the oysterman has \u201cgot things to explain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), who had previously endorsed Gov. Janet Mills in the Maine Senate race, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) also declined to endorse Platner on Wednesday. Cortez Masto rattled off other top Democratic targets in Iowa, North Carolina and Alaska, while Duckworth said she’s “focused on the Midwest.”<\/p>\n

And Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), a frequent critic of his own party who has repeatedly raised concerns about Platner, said Maine Democrats have made their choice but \u201cI would never [endorse Platner]. I’ll be a Democrat to refuse to carry water for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who said Wednesday he would support all Democratic Senate nominees, suggested the oysterman still has \u201cwork to do\u201d to address his scandals.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe challenge that Platner has is the challenge that any candidate has, and it’s to address in a direct way both personal and political issues that are legitimate questions for the voters. He’s got to do that,\u201d said Welch, who had also met with Platner last week to privately urge<\/a> him to address voters\u2019 questions head on. \u201cUntil the election is over, he\u2019s got work to do, every day in every way.\u201d<\/p>\n

$\"Democratic$ <\/p>\n

Not every senator traditionally endorses in every race. But Democrats\u2019 chances of taking back the Senate hinge squarely on being able to defeat Collins, the only Republican senator seeking reelection this year in a state former Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2024. The party has hoped to knock off Collins many times before only to come up short \u2014 and it\u2019s now putting its hopes on Platner, whose campaign has electrified Maine and generated unprecedented grassroots support, but also faced a litany of controversies.<\/p>\n

Continued Democratic division could be a boon for Republicans who are already launching<\/a> into general-election attacks on Platner. Collins has repeatedly won reelection with a coalition that includes a substantial share of independents and Democratic voters, especially moderate women.<\/p>\n

Platner\u2019s rise came without the backing of the Democratic establishment: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) recruited Mills, who suspended her campaign in April after poor polling and fundraising numbers.<\/p>\n

The political newcomer\u2019s ability to challenge the establishment was part of his appeal to Maine voters, as he argued the Democratic Party had lost its way and needed to return to its working-class roots.<\/p>\n

Some well-timed endorsements helped Platner in key moments in his primary campaign. Sen. Bernie Sanders\u2019 (I-Vt.) early backing helped put him on the map<\/a>. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) gave his campaign a boost earlier this year as he faced renewed questions about a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol. And Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) even helped him fundraise<\/a> in the aftermath of the most recent allegations.<\/p>\n

The New York Times last week reported<\/a> that several of Platner\u2019s ex-girlfriends alleged toxic patterns of behavior, including one who said he grabbed her in ways that left marks. Before that, his campaign acknowledged he had exchanged sexual messages<\/a> with other women while married. Last fall, his uncovered Reddit history<\/a> included numerous offensive comments. And Platner owned up to having a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, although he said he was unaware of its meaning.<\/p>\n

Platner has denied being violent with women and has argued that his past poor behavior reflects a difficult time in his life, as he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder after leaving the military.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve made mistakes in my life, mistakes that I regret, that I lived with, that I continue to learn from,\u201d he said in a Tuesday night victory speech. \u201cI’m still far from perfect, but every day I wake up and I try to be a little bit better and a little bit kinder than I was the day before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following his Tuesday primary victory, Platner\u2019s Senate supporters urged their colleagues to rally behind him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey need to coalesce, they need to coalesce around Platner,\u201d Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told reporters on Wednesday, arguing Platner has \u201ctaken responsibility\u201d for his past actions.<\/p>\n

Sanders told reporters on Capitol Hill he was confident that Democrats would come around.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlatner won a landslide victory last night, and I am quite confident that Democrats who want to regain the Senate will be supporting him as the Democratic nominee,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

At least one lawmaker who had not previously endorsed Platner was ready to support him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere’s a man who said \u2018I made mistakes, I apologize for them, I am going to earn the trust of my constituents,\u2019\u201d said Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii). \u201cThat says a lot in contrast to the president, who never admits doing anything that is untoward, and who just blames everybody else, and who prosecutes people. I think Maine voters have expressed themselves and they\u2019re willing to give him a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other Democrats who had been skeptical of Platner\u2019s viability in the general election \u2014 and had considered pressuring him to drop out \u2014 now appear resigned to him staying in the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was obviously a strong result for him which I think should quiet some of the immediate anxiety, but that will return if more revelations come out,\u201d said one senior Democratic Senate aide, granted anonymity to discuss the race candidly. \u201cSeems like even his supporters are not really defending the conduct, so [it\u2019s] kind of incumbent on him to try to address more fully and move on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another Senate Democratic aide, also granted anonymity to speak candidly about the race, agreed: \u201cHe weathered the storm, but is he out of it? Primary night didn’t answer that question. The next several weeks will determine whether this campaign is a referendum on his personal conduct or Susan Collins aligning with an unpopular GOP agenda that is hurting Mainers.\u201d<\/p>\n

$\"Sen.$ <\/p>\n

Republicans have indicated they will try to make Platner\u2019s controversies central to the race, with the National Republican Senatorial Committee and a pro-Collins super PAC launching ads that highlight some of the Democrat\u2019s past Reddit comments. Platner, meanwhile, in his first general election ad<\/a> on Wednesday, went after the \u201cEpstein class\u201d but did not mention Collins.<\/p>\n

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) said her thinking on the race had not changed from a few weeks ago, saying she plans to \u201cwork with whoever the Mainers elect, period.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way that this president has completely railroaded my Republican colleagues in this body, they don’t deserve to run a separate branch of government,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd if we want any chance of putting a check and balance on him that involves electing Platner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked whether Platner needs to do more to address his past scandals, Slotkin simply replied: \u201cI just hope I’m not caught again live on TV answering the same questions about bad behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jordain Carney contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"