Sen. Bernie Sanders stands by Graham Platner after controversy over sexually explicit texts

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JOEY CAPPELLETTI and PATRICK WHITTLE
Updated 6:41 PM CDT, June 1, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Monday that he is standing by Graham Platner in the wake of media reports that the Maine Senate candidate previously exchanged sexually explicit text messages with several women while he was married.

Platner, a Democrat, posted a video over the weekend taken by his wife, Amy Gertner, who reportedly told his campaign of the text messages last year. In the video, Gertner decried coverage of the issue as “gossip” and said “being married is hard.”

Sanders, a critical early backer of Platner, told The Associated Press on Monday that he still supports the oyster farmer and combat veteran, who hopes to unseat veteran Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

“People can’t afford healthcare. Can’t afford groceries. Can’t afford to put gas in their cars. And I think it might be a good idea if we focused on the important issues facing the working families of Maine and this country,” Sanders said.


Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, left, join hands at an event in Orono, Maine, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/graham-platner-texting-senate-bernie-sanders-79a0d66fb25f711a9b04d6f655f5ee00

[SSJVegeta]

1. I have Susan Collins level concerns over his text messages

But am far more worried with whether my mom can afford her groceries on social security

[wolfie001]

2. THIS!!!

100%! And thank you Senator Sanders! 💯🔵🔵🔵🔵👏👏👏👏

[DemocracyForever]

63. Trump sexual abuse allegations dwarf Platner sexting

Susan Collins "concerns" about the Platner sexting while she ignores Trump'sfar more numerous sexual abuse allegations is the height of GOP hypocrisy. Do I like Platner's sexting? Absolutely not. Do I want to see the GOP retain Senate control? Absolutely not. Collins also put Kavanaugh on the SCOTUS who then overturned Roe vs Wade. This is another reason the GOP must lose Senate control.

[2naSalit]

3. That's too bad...

[3Hotdogs]

5. I don't understand your post?

[niyad]

24. Agreed!

[QueerDuck]

43. Yes. It is.

[gab13by13]

4. I support Democrats

[GreenWave]

12. Yep!

A little bit of evil for a much greater good.

[Bluetus]

14. The issue is always hypocrisy, not "mortality"

Show me a politician who hasn't had some inappropriate relations and I'll show you a person who hasn't been exposed yet. So let's not go too far with our "morality rankings".

The issue is hypocrisy. If Platner had a pattern of preaching his personal virtues day in and day out, and criticizing others based on his moral superiority (as so many Republicans do), it would be a completely different thing.

Without the hypocrisy factor, what we have is an organized attack campagn, and that is undoubted coming from hostile foreign actors like AIPAC, Putin and the like, Republicans, or corporatist factions within the Dem Party. Of all of those, I would consider only Republican attacks as fair game. The rest is ratf-ing one way or another.

[quakerboy]

44. while I agree with your larger point

I think we are good on Carter and Obama and a few others

[Emile]

52. AIPAC

pouring millions of dollars into key races to defeat progressive candidates, they are actively silencing the diverse, working-class voices that the party relies on to win. We need to Reject AIPAC to protect the integrity of our elections."

[Javaman]

6. amazing isn't it? we have a fucking rapist in the WH but people get bent out of shape over a few sex texts. nt

[Bengus81]

8. Yeah and no real push back from the MSM about Paxton

and republicans love that asshat.

[sop]

17. Republicans know they can always count on Democrats to 'get bent out of shape' about their own candidates.

These sexual impropriety attacks during a campaign have to originate from within the Democratic party to be useful, it would be laughably hypocritical if Republicans were to do it themselves.

[popsdenver]

48. Hypocritical

that is the # 1 thing needed to be a Republican for decades and decades.......

Governor Owens - (R), of Colorado, Spawned NOT ONE, BUT TWO illegitimate children, out of wedlock with TWO SEPARATE WOMEN, while he was in office in 2000-2008. His wife finally divorced him when he did it a second time....... His wife, a Republican, I guess was okay with the first one???? Along with the Republican Voters, all looking the other way......?????

And that was nothing compared to Trump's actions during all of HIS marriages......with all his "Pussy Footing" around on all his wives......

[Midwestern Democrat]

49. I remember when the previous Democratic governor of Virginia was almost drummed out of office because he stupidly

posed for a photo in blackface while in college. Initially they tried to go with "he did a stupid thing years ago and he's sorry" - but that wasn't good enough - people in the party were still demanding his resignation - so in order to survive, he had to essentially destroy all his credibility by claiming the picture actually wasn't of him - that somehow a picture of a different man in blackface was put on his yearbook page - a laughable lie was more acceptable than the truth. This hyper-focus on personal peccadillos is killing us - and as a result, this often leads to bland, establishment approved candidates who "did all the right things and sucked up to all the right people" and who excite no one.

[ShazzieB]

7. Thank you, Bernie!

If Platner's good enough for Bernie, he's good enough for me!

[AZLD4Candidate]

9. I called it. Here we go with the hit pieces when a Republican is in danger of losing. Our news media

yet again trying to put its thumb on the scale for Republicans.

[LymphocyteLover]

10. was there anything worse than sexually explicit texts to other women?

If not, I don't see how this would derail his candidacy

[electron_blue]

13. yeah, there is worse but not getting as much play as the infidelities

I agree the sexting isn't enough to derail any other politicians. but Platner posted awful comments about women and rape 10-15 years ago that is reported in the NYTimes among other places. About women making too big a deal about rape, it's not that bad, they shouldn't drink alcohol while having sex/being raped, they use rape accusation to get even with men. He's a misogynist (like Bernie) and being a misogynist is given a free pass in this country right now.

[niyad]

19. I do not understand how people keep forgetting about that. Or, if they

mention it, excuse it a dozen different ways.

[radical noodle]

20. And this is a much bigger deal

His attitude toward women is nothing short of creepy.

[niyad]

23. And the defense, or deliberate ignoring of that attitude is disturbing

and disappointing.

[mcar]

45. This!

And it is very disturbing to me that people are OK with that.

Kind of shows where we women stand with some in our own party, doesn't it?

[LymphocyteLover]

28. Ugh... I sincerely hope he's grown up since then... a least a bit

Interesting to hear Bernie called a misogynist. Never heard that exactly. What is it based on?

[AloeVera]

65. That is one interpretation of what he said.

Here are Platner's words. I rarely see them quoted here. People should make up their minds based on Platner's actual words.

In the Reddit thread with a header "shorts that prevent you from being raped" with an ad for Kevlar underwear, Platner, then 29, commented:

"Holy f---, how about people just take some responsibility for themselves and not get so f----- up they wind up having sex with someone they don't mean to? Men and women, you make a choice to consume enough of a substance to lose your self control. So if you don't want to be in a comprising situation, act like an adult for f---- sake."

The post continued: "Rape is a real thing, if you're so worried about it to buy Kevlar underwear you'd think you might not get blacked out f----- up around people you aren't comfortable with.

Another post:
In today’s current climate, when every whisper of a misplaced hand brings down a feature length film, anyone who actually thinks the military is purposefully covering up rape to save the career of some god damn [captain], is clearly both an idiot and junior enough in rank or life experience to think it matters,”

[Marcuse]

11. It's too late now, but remember Lieberman, Manchin, Sinema, and Fetterman.

[Emile]

18. You think Platner will be a worthless Centrist? Lol

[LymphocyteLover]

29. can you rule it out? Fetterman sure played being a leftist initially

[Emile]

30. Centrist Fetterman fooled everyone.

[Nixie]

55. Conor Lamb was the centrist. In the race of Conor Lamb vs. Fetterman, Lamb was the centrist.

Fetterman ran as Bernie's "firebrand progressive." No one knows what Fetterman really is since he misrepresented himself.

There is press out there of AOC apologizing to Lamb for the error in judgment.

Conor Lamb is out there now reminding everyone that the centrist, Conor Lamb, was the better choice.

[Emile]

59. John Fetterman is known for his centrist approach,

often breaking from party lines to represent a broader constituency in Pennsylvania, which includes both liberal and conservative views. His willingness to work with Republicans and support bipartisan initiatives has contributed to his popularity among voters from different political backgrounds.

If you voted or supported Lamb because he was a centrist, you should be happy with Fetterman.

[Icanthinkformyself]

15. Yeah,

like the 'party of (no) family values' has something to say. They support a pedophile Convicted Felon. Phuck conservatives and Republicans. Platner wasn't phucking little girls like the pedophile-in-chief.

[radical noodle]

16. Of course he does

Boys will be boys

[nycbos]

21. Of course he does.

He stood by him over the SS tattoo. He stood by him after the Reddit posts blaming women for getting raped.

I'm more angry at Maine Democrats that Team Normal couldn't come up with an alternative to him than someone who was in their 70s.

[Emile]

22. Of course he does. He supports Platner's platform!

Ban billionaires buying elections

Rebuild our failing healthcare system

Support Small Business – Break Up the Monopolies

Stop the mass deportation machine; pass real immigration reform

Defend our air, our water, our land and our climate

Decisive action on the housing crisis

Defend Medicare and Medicaid

Protect Social Security – before it goes bankrupt

End Billionaire Welfare, Pass a Cost-of-Living Tax Cut

Uphold tribal sovereignty and self-determination

Defend democracy and the Constitution

Strengthen our working waterfront

Support unions, and bring good union jobs to Maine

Defend and support public schools

Keep government out of our private lives; defend the right to choose

Protect Maine’s economy: raise the federal minimum wage

Equality for ALL

The War in Gaza

End the failed War on Drugs

Take on waste and corruption at the Pentagon; rebuild American shipbuilding

No more pointless wars

Address the childcare crisis

Support Americans with disabilities

Pay servicemen a fair wage; no more servicemen on food stamps

Defend the VA and support our veterans

Defend the Post Office and establish postal banking

Pass term limits – and hold politicians to their term limits pledges

[Martin Eden]

25. Platner's wife is standing by him

This matter is primarily between them, and possibly the unidentified recipient of those texts. Was the sexual texts welcome, or unwanted harassment?

Republicans will no doubt scream HYPOCRISY, even though their (and Collins') continued support of Trump is a much greater hypocrisy. If they want to do battle on the field of morality, they occupy the lower ground.

We must stand by our Senate nominee. The higher morality of saving our Constitutional democracy and better serving the American people demands it.

[delisen]

27. Marriage is personal until you run for public office

After the candidate announces abuse of marriage vows becomes a possible character issue and character issues are political issues.

[Martin Eden]

34. That is true

My point is that we have no choice but to support Platner at this point, and we still win on the battlefield of morality.

Marital infidelity (which includes Kennedy and Clinton) is a far less egregious character flaw than Nixon's Watergate, Reagan's deals with Iran, GW's lies for war in Iraq, and Trump’s unprecedented mendacity and corruption.

[Biglinda 52]

62. So that means..

FDR, LBJ, Kennedy all had character issues that affected how the governed????

[jmbar2]

36. We will never hear from the women recipients because...

STFU! We're winning! Boys will be boys.

I'm not outraged over his "morality", as much as the treatment of women by him and the party. They get thrown under the bus.

He has a LONG history of being a horndog. There will be a lot of pressure on women and his wife to not talk. So we really don't know what other shoes may drop. He has dragged his poor wife through global humiliation, despite what she says to protect his candidacy. He treats women like crap.

Embattled Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner still has an active account on Kik, the anonymous app known for being a hotbed of hookups and adultery, where he allegedly sexted several women while married.

Platner’s account, “Phustle0331,” which bears his name and claims to have been active for 3,611 days remains active as of noon on Monday,

His Kik user ID, Phustle0331, was previously confirmed by the Wall Street Journal to be his account. It is also similar to the “P-Hustle” Reddit handle that Platner used for wild screeds that have since been mass-deleted from the forum platform.

https://www.aol.com/news/graham-platner-still-active-account-192224487.html

[Martin Eden]

40. That's a shame

Shame on him, and a shame we don't have a less flawed Democratic nominee.

We need that Senate seat.

And we have to be better than this.

[quakerboy]

47. I feel like the pressure on them to talk

Will ve far greater than the pressure to stay silent.

We have a much greater and more intrusive rw media machine in this country than anything the left would even dream of. Every federal branch of government is run by Republicans, and a majority of state branches are as well. And most of the ownership of media companies are trump allies.

They need to keep the senate. Unless theres still worse things to be revealed about platner, I expect dribbles of info on this to keep flowing out right up to election day to try and keep it alive and save collins.

[Klondike Kat]

26. We should not let "the perfect" be the enemy of "the good"

We discard too many highly qualified candidates because we take the moral high ground while our opponents wallow in the filth. That doesn't mean that we should wallow in the filth with them, but sometimes it may be necessary to play the game by their rules.

[TBF]

31. I don't like this, but it's too late -

if it had come out in primary that would be different & you'd try to boost someone else. But now he's the candidate and we get him or Collins. If Maine dems can get him in, we need to support them and pray he's not a Fetterman.

[chouchou]

32. We know one thing. If Platner said something like "Grab them by their pussy".....

...his life in politics is over !!

[question everything]

51. You think? What I am curious is why has he kept them on his phone for his wife to find.

Does he still carry them?

Glad I am not a Maine voter.

[chouchou]

70. Since Donald said the same thing and Trump was punished for saying that...

Mr Platner will have the same punishment

[delisen]

68. Or like Vance he will just switch sides.

Platner voted for Collins in the past. I think he registered as a Democrat just before running-but I am not sure.

[Nixie]

33. Great. Now do this about Hillary's speeches.

It’s about time.

[betsuni]

42. Rule one: Insist everything's about policy but attack character.

Rule two: Insist everything's about policy and ignore character flaws.

Rule one applies when policy goals are the same and only strategy is different but the target must be demonized as corrupt and immoral. Rule two for one's supporters.

[Nixie]

50. Absolutely! Now we're also seeing the complete rewriting of the John Fetterman history since the Berniecrats

can't handle that he fooled them.

You nailed it -- rewrite the rules for your supporters.

Now we're seeing that spending $210 million on yourself in a governor race in California isn't really corrupt after all -- so much for the "grassroots" priority that Hillary was attacked about.

[Emile]

54. So you are saying you weren't fooled by Fetterman, you knew all along he was a centrist.

[Nixie]

57. Conor Lamb was the centrist. Fetterman ran as the "firebrand progressive."

No one knows what Fetterman is because he was dishonest. Rewriting reality is not your strong suit.

[Emile]

60. But we do know, he's a centrist. Post 59

[betsuni]

69. Rearranging history to fit ideology, like insisting FDR was a democratic socialist or that manufacturing

jobs weren't sourced abroad until NAFTA or that Democrats have shifted to the Right over the last forty years.

I don't get the Fetterman Centrist Trojan horse story. The moral of every story, though, is BLAME DEMOCRATS.

Because it's not a lie if you believe it.

[mountain grammy]

35. my supplement insurance just raised my rate 20%

due to the big beautiful fuck the middle class bill and big cuts to Medicare..

Vote Democrat! Vote Platner!

[Emile]

37. Rebuilding our failing healthcare system is in Platner's platform.

[SamuelAdams]

38. This is not only about lewd texts.

We have already seen a trove of offensive posts he has made online. If this much has come out already, what else is there? If Collins has dirt, it wouldn't make sense to release it yet. She most likely has people talking to his schoolmates, former coworkers, exes, anyone who ever knew him. Based on what we already know, do you think there is nothing else to find? If someone comes forward with more serious allegations, what credibility does Platner have to refute them? Only 37% of Maine voters are Democrats. Susan Collins has won 5 times. Platner has to convince non Democrats and people who have voted for Collins or not voted at all to vote for him. He was only up by 7% in polling before this came out and before Collins has gone after him. He is not yet the nominee. The Senate balance and Justices Thomas and Alito's Supreme Court seats could depend on this race. The popular governor was already pushed out of the race for this guy. It seems like at least thinking about nominating another candidate would be wise.

[yankee87]

39. Support Dems!!!!!

I will support ALL Democrats even if they are not perfect. The days of looking at crap like this is over. I'm much more worried about AIPAC Dems.

[Emile]

41. This is not about lewd texts. Graham Platner's platform directly attacks wealthy

special interests. The "oligarchs" and billionaires dislike his policies because he campaigns on raising taxes on the superrich, enacting a "billionaire minimum tax", and breaking up corporate monopolies. His economic agenda threatens the financial advantages currently enjoyed by corporate elites.

The powerful are attacking him with everything they can make up.

[markpkessinger]

46. My concerns regarding Platner have to do with the way he has misrepresented his background and upbringing

He presents himself as a working class "oyster farmer" who was "never close to money and power." But then the NY Times reported that he is the grandson of a prominent Connecticut architect and the son of a Dartmouth-educated lawyer, from whom Platner still receives significant financial support, and who paid for Platner's wife's fertility treatments in Norway. As for being an oyster farmer, we find out that his only customer appears to be his mother's restaurant business. This from a guy who says, "“I’m a working-class guy that lives a working-class life." And we learn that he attended some very elite prep schools. From the NY Times article (gift link below):

In 1999, he spent a semester at the Hotchkiss School, a storied boarding school in the foothills of the Berkshires, where he said he had received financial aid to help cover the approximately $25,000 annual cost. Feeling out of place among the wealthy students, Mr. Platner said, he stopped going to class and was expelled.

He resumed his education as a day student at John Bapst Memorial High School, a private high school in Bangor, about an hour northwest of Sullivan.

It was known in the area as a prep school favored by families who wanted their children to get into more competitive universities, a place where freshmen took school trips to London or Paris, according to a yearbook.

Just a working class guy leading a working class life. Uh huh.

If he has misrepresented who he is already, why should anybody trust that he will be who he says during the campaign he will be?

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/15/us/politics/platner-maine-senate-working-class.html?unlocked_article_code=1.nFA.3sOJ.8E5AHLqV32OO&smid=url-share

[LisaM]

53. Yes, I feel he has misrepresented himself too.

Unfortunately, voters seem to favor charisma, even negative charisma, over experience. They also seem to, in this divided society, favor candidates who espouse policies that, for good or bad, stray from the mainstream.

I want a form of national healthcare, almost everyone I know wants a form of national healthcare, but we can't snap our fingers and get there. I wish we could. I wish we could learn to find and then support candidates willing to accept that sometimes change is incremental and who are willing to work tirelessly to get there.

[DFW]

61. Well, he is wearing that sweatshirt

It carries one Latin word that roughly translates out to "I'm in charge"

[betsuni]

66. Yet populists describe themselves as the "authentic" ones compared to the "elites."

[Nanjeanne]

56. As does Chris Murphy and Ro Khanna. Glad to see it.

[lostincalifornia]

58. I wish that was done by some in 2016 for Hillary.

[BlueKota]

64. As long as everyone involved is a an adult,consenting,

and the politician has not committed a crime I dont give a crap about what they do in their personal lives. I should add unless it is distracting them from doing their work for their constituents as well.

[sellitman]

67. If it was sex texts to children....

I guess the GOP might switch and support him?