By
Nia Prater,
Intelligencer staff writer, who covers New York politics
There have been moments when Graham Platner’s first-time Maine Senate campaign has felt undeniable and moments when it has felt untenable. The oyster farmer and military veteran has outlasted the state’s governor, a veteran Democratic-primary competitor, all while navigating a series of persistent scandals that would’ve likely hobbled the average candidate — and now, Platner’s Teflon-like reputation is being tested yet again.
On Saturday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Amy Gertner, Platner’s wife, disclosed to his campaign that she had discovered sexually explicit text messages to other women on her husband’s phone in 2025, citing sources familiar. According to the outlet, Gertner flagged the messages to a campaign aide as staff was conducting an internal vetting of Platner ahead of a scheduled Labor Day weekend rally with Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, but the texts were later deemed a personal matter that the couple was addressing in private, a campaign official told the Journal.
