Senator Brian Schatz Appears at Virtual Fundraiser for Embattled Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platton

On Sunday, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), deputy conference secretary, joined a virtual pre-primary fundraiser for Graham Platton, the Democratic nominee for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat. Tickets ranged $100–$7,000, marking Schatz’s first public support without a formal endorsement.

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Platton faces three allegations: sending sexually explicit texts to other women while married; reports of violent behavior toward ex-girlfriends; and a claim he concealed knowledge of a tattoo resembling Nazi symbol. He denies all claims, but revelations have drawn criticism from Democrats.

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Beyond Schatz, Platton’s backers include Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), the veterans group VoteVets, the Working Families Party, and Showing Up for Racial Justice. Allies Matt Dunlap and Troy Jackson also appeared at a rally.

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In May, Schatz donated to Platton after he secured the presumptive nomination; the amount is undisclosed. The New York Times published new allegations on June 5, when Schatz’s virtual fundraiser took place. Platton’s campaign announced a $200,000 boost after the story, the biggest since Gov. Janet Mills halted her bid. Tuesday’s primary will decide the Democratic nominee against Sen. Susan Collins.

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A Schatz campaign spokesperson said the fundraiser was planned weeks ahead and referenced Schatz’s May contribution. Rep. Khanna, after Platton’s rally, urged voters to allow “room for redemption” while emphasizing the need to defeat Collins. Leaders from Chuck Schumer to Bernie Sanders have reiterated a goal of winning the Maine seat.

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Several Democrats argue Platton’s alleged conduct conflicts with party values and have urged him to exit the race. Critics warn that keeping him could jeopardize the attempt to flip the seat, while others caution that abandoning him might hand the election to Collins.

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At a Friday rally with Khanna, Dunlap and Jackson, Platton thanked supporters, emphasizing that he feels backed despite the controversies and urging Maine voters to stand with him.

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Schatz’s contribution to Platton remains undisclosed in official campaign-finance filings, leaving its amount unknown. The timeline of Platton’s awareness of the tattoo controversy also remains unclear.

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• “As every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated and weaponized, you have my back,” — Graham Platton, Senate candidate

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• “And when politically motivated, serious and false accusations are made against me, Maine, you have my back.” — Graham Platton, Senate candidate

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• “The Democratic Party, from Schumer to Sanders, is united with a single goal: we will defeat Susan Collins in November,” — Ro Khanna, Representative

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Maine, won by former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, is a key pickup for Democrats aiming to retake the Senate. The primary’s result and the general election will test whether party unity can overcome Platton’s controversies and secure a win against Sen. Susan Collins.

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