# Are there any reasons to reject Graham Platner in Maine (campaign suspended July 8, 2026) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 4, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179 "2026-03-04T03:50:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 33
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/643 "2026-05-22T13:56:56Z")
I think you can edit Reddit posts indefinitely and there are services that will use a bot to scramble all your posts. I’m pretty sure there are also people watching the API to find what people are trying to hide. Your classic Streisand Effect. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/644 "2026-05-22T14:49:02Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’m not sure if there’s a way to delete your account AND all your posts in one fell swoop. If I were gonna run for office, I’d probably hire some people to do that for me. You can, yes, through third party apps. This is why sometimes you’ll see old reddit posts that are full of random words followed by a phrase like “this post was anonymized due to changes to Reddit’s terms of service using Site XYZ”. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/645 "2026-05-25T12:16:43Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > You can, yes, through third party apps. This is why sometimes you’ll see old reddit posts that are full of random words I always wondered what those posts were. Thanks for learnin’ me. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/646 "2026-05-26T20:39:17Z")
Platner is currently leading Collins 48-41. > **[Graham Platner leads Susan Collins by 7 points in latest poll](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/05/20/politics/elections/platner-leads-collins-maine/)** > > Platner received 48% support compared with Collins’ 41% in a survey by Pan Atlantic Research released Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/647 "2026-05-31T03:53:38Z")
Platner seems to have morphed into a composite of John Fetterman, Charlie Kirk, and now Anthony Weiner. Latest revelation: his wife discovered, a few months before he launched his Senate bid, that he’d been sexting up to a dozen women (the Platner campaign says it was only six women. Alrighty then. 😄) > **[Graham Platner’s wife says she’s ‘deeply hurt’ by public revelations of her...](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/30/politics/graham-platner-wife-campaign)** > > The wife of Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner said she was “deeply hurt” after details of her husband’s extramarital sexting became public Saturday, accusing a former campaign official and confidante of betraying her trust. Combined with Platner’s comment about how sexual assault victims needed to take responsibility, he’s well on his way to [sewing up the female vote](https://emilyslist.org/sound-the-alarm/sound-the-alarm-graham-platner-says-sexual-assault-victims-should-take-some-responsibility-in-now-deleted-reddit-posts/). The hits [just keep on coming](https://nypost.com/2026/05/30/us-news/lefty-senate-candidate-graham-platner-reportedly-sexted-numerous-women-on-hookup-app-kik-and-wife-flagged-it-to-campaign/). How do you like your blue-eyed boy now, Mister Dumbocrat? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/648 "2026-05-31T04:42:03Z")
I actually hone in on this statement from the NYT version of the story, a quote from the person his wife trusted to tell: > “The United States Senate is not a training ground for redemption,” Ms. McDonald said. “It is a place for proven leaders with moral clarity and integrity.” Actually I think the American voter _loves_ a redemption story. And he is running against someone who by her support of Trump has proven _lack_ of moral clarity and integrity. If I was a Maine voter their hard work in their marriage included dealing with his flaws would not bother me. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/649 "2026-05-31T04:44:42Z")
His wife seems to have forgiven him, and I’d say her opinion is the one that matters most on this particular issue. Still concerning behavior, but considering that the Republican party is actively sheltering and protecting rapists and pedophiles, it’s small potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/650 "2026-05-31T08:57:51Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > His wife seems to have forgiven him They always say that. It’s Page 1 in the political wives’ handbook. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/651 "2026-05-31T13:37:36Z")
That’s what they say if they decide it’s worth staying with him. It’s not what Ken Paxton’s wife said. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/652 "2026-05-31T19:40:40Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Latest revelation: his wife discovered, a few months before he launched his Senate bid, that he’d been sexting up to a dozen women (the Platner campaign says it was only six women. Oh, my goodness, naughty texting!!! Too bad I dont have pearls to clutch. 🙄 Typical GOP attack. > [@Smapti](#): > > Still concerning behavior, but considering that the Republican party is actively sheltering and protecting rapists and pedophiles, it’s small potatoes. Right. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/653 "2026-05-31T19:45:55Z")
We can’t dismiss the notion that according to some Republicans saying “Hi” in a text to someone that does not have a penis is “sexting”. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/654 "2026-05-31T20:11:25Z")
It says that his wife “confided” and there was a photo of him wearing only a towel. So a little more than just texting other women. But it also says that’s “from the early days of our marriage”. How long have they been married? I can’t get very excited if this is more than a few years ago. For that matter, i have a lot of friends who are poly, and I’m not sure i can get excited about consensual sexting at all if his wife doesn’t think it is a problem. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/655 "2026-05-31T20:17:18Z")
That being said, i heard something on the radio about someone texting… something really ordinary, like recipes… to a person who wasn’t their spouse, and the radio seemed to think it might be a campaign issue. I looked across the breakfast table at my husband, and said, “just so you know, i text stuff like that to David”. (A friend i was watching TV with one day every week between retiring and picking up a new job, and still sometimes.) My husband laughed. I’ve read some of those texts to him, he knows perfectly well that David and i chat about cooking. I’ve also shared a hotel room with David, both with and without my husband. David and i sleep in different beds, and take turns changing in the bathroom. It’s all very platonic. I’m married, and he has a girl friend. But we have compatible schedules at square dance events, and make good roommates. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/656 "2026-05-31T20:53:54Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > But it also says that’s “from the early days of our marriage”. How long have they been married? I can’t get very excited if this is more than a few years ago. They married in 2023. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/657 "2026-05-31T21:22:36Z")
Well, if he were running for president, or governor, or mayor, that might be a red flag. I don’t want my executive distracted by maritial problems. But he’s running for Senate. Honestly, i care a lot more about the D after his name than his love life. He does seem to be a pretty flawed candidate. At least i like most of his platform. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/658 "2026-05-31T22:21:04Z")
There is so much bs where he’s going to have to explain himself instead of talking about anything positive about himself. One of Susan Collins’s strengths is being innofensive. He has a lot of populist appeal and the democrats have a huge edge in general at this point but they’re running a serious risk of throwing one of the most crucial senate races. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/659 "2026-05-31T22:28:15Z")
If Collins holds the seat it’ll be because the party establishment tried to throw its weight behind an octogenarian centrist at a time when gerontocracy and centrism has proven feeble and helpless, if not complicit, against the rise of fascism. That such a flawed candidate managed to become the nominee because he actually talks about using the power of government to help people instead of mealy-mouthed platitudes about bipartisanship and norms is a symptom of how much the Democratic party has become beholden to wealthy donors and corporate patrons and ignores what its voters actually want them to do. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/660 "2026-05-31T23:15:11Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > If Collins holds the seat it’ll be because the party establishment tried to throw its weight behind an octogenarian centrist Collins is NOT a centrist. She just pretends to not fully support trump. until the vote comes, when she does her “brow furrowing” and votes straight MAGA, with a couple of minor exceptions where her vote didnt change anything. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/661 "2026-05-31T23:29:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Collins is NOT a centrist. I was describing Janet Mills. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2026, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/662 "2026-06-01T03:15:35Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I was describing Janet Mills. Then, why not say so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179.md?page=34)