Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maine, has faced revelations regarding his past behavior in a campaign admission by his wife.
According to reports, Amy Gartner, Platner’s wife, informed campaign aides in August about the discovery of explicit text messages from the spring of 2025, shortly after their marriage.
Platner acknowledged sending these messages, as aides were looking into their candidate’s background. This scrutiny arose as the campaign was gearing up for a rally involving Sen. Bernie Sanders from Vermont.
A campaign official noted that ultimately, aides determined the issue was a private matter being handled through marriage counseling.
Gartner mentioned that she thought she was confiding in someone she regarded as a friend, emphasizing that both she and her husband had committed to putting in the work for their marriage.
“We went to counseling,” she shared. “We were honest in ways that weren’t easy, and, honestly, we emerged from this stronger than before, not despite our challenges, but because of our love for each other and the life we’ve built.”
Gartner expressed confidence in the strength of their marriage today, affirming that Platner is the husband she deeply cherishes.
Reports revealed that Platner had an active account on Kik, a messaging app, identified by the username phustle0331. His profile featured a shirtless selfie, according to sources.
His campaign stated that while he has since deleted the app, his account remains active.
The Kik app has been linked to various controversies in the past, as noted in a report from Forbes.
Genevieve MacDonald, a former political director for the Platner campaign, indicated that Gartner shared her concerns about Platner exchanging sexual messages with multiple women. However, a current campaign staffer said the number was closer to six.
In a video, Gartner expressed her frustration over media coverage, stating that instead of discussing Platner’s political agenda—such as health care and education—there’s a focus on gossip and speculation.
“If you know us, you know we got married in 2023 and live in Sullivan with our two dogs,” Gartner noted, emphasizing their strong bond despite the headlines. “It’s disheartening and embarrassing to see how the media choose to portray our situation instead of focusing on what really matters.”
She continued, acknowledging that no marriage is flawless and asserting her commitment to Platner, whom she described as wonderful and dynamic, despite his previous challenges.
