At a campaign rally in Bar Harbor, Maine, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner thanked supporters as his run faces mounting scrutiny over allegations from former romantic partners, which he has denied as politically motivated and false.
He started with a line meant to feel like a promise.
“ M aine, you had my back,” Graham Platner told a cheering crowd Friday night at a campaign rally in Bar Harbor, Maine, describing how supporters had stuck with him after what he called “hurtful things” he said on the internet a decade ago resurfaced publicly—along with allegations tied to his past.
Platner. a 41-year-old Marine Corps veteran running in the Maine primary on Tuesday against David Costello to decide who will face longtime Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins in the general election, framed the controversy as a fight over loyalty and intent. When “hurtful things I said on the internet a decade ago came out into the public. ” he said he had shared his “personal journey through PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] and darkness of recovery. as I shared my personal journey through PTSD and darkness of recovery. and accountability and growth. ” adding that “Maine had my back.”.
Then he turned to the newer scrutiny—allegations raised in a recent report by The New York Times from some of his former romantic partners.
“ And when politically motivated, serious and false accusations are made against me, Maine, you have my back,” Platner told the crowd, with the implication clear: the pressure on his campaign isn’t only about the past—it’s about who’s trying to control the narrative now.
Platner said supporters had remained loyal even as “every single piece” of his past had been “dug up, litigated and weaponized,” portraying the recent attention as an attempt to derail his bid.
The rally came after allegations surfaced in the Times report this week, including claims from one former girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield. Fifield alleged that Platner engaged in physically threatening behavior during their relationship over a decade ago. She described. in one instance. that Platner twisted her arm behind her back during an argument. shoved her into a bedroom. and blocked her from exiting. She said she fell asleep and then left the next morning. “It hurt,” Fifield said, adding that “It didn’t cause an injury, it didn’t break my arm.”.
Fifield also told the outlet that Platner “never hit me, he never punched me.” The Times said it could not independently corroborate the incidents alleged by Fifield.
After the article was published, Fifield criticized the Times on social media in lengthy posts, questioning how her account was represented and saying important context had been omitted.
A spokesperson for the Times told Newsweek: “We published accounts provided by several women who were in romantic relationships with Graham Platner. Our story accurately presents each of these accounts as told to our reporters and according to our standards. We stand by our reporting of the accounts from Ms. Fifield and the other women. who provided a revealing look at the behavior of a major candidate for the U.S. Senate.”.
Platner has strongly denied the accusations. He said allegations involving physicality are “simply not true” and described them as politically motivated. Despite the controversy, his supporters at the rally appeared unfazed, responding with loud applause throughout his speech.
He was also joined at the event by Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California.
Platner has said he takes responsibility for mistakes from his past, but that the more serious allegations are false. With Maine’s crucial Senate contest drawing national attention. he signaled that he intends to press forward despite criticism. choosing to treat the confrontation as something the campaign could weather—at least for now.
Graham Platner Maine Senate primary Bar Harbor rally David Costello Susan Collins Ro Khanna allegations Lyndsey Fifield PTSD Marine Corps veteran