Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) offered scant details Tuesday about his meeting with Maine’s embattled Senate hopeful Graham Platner after the Democratic candidate met with Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill.
In the past week, Platner has faced significant backlash after reports surfaced that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women who were not his wife, leaving party members concerned about unseating Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in November.
Recommended Stories
Schumer repeatedly sidestepped questions about Platner during his weekly press conference following the closed-door meeting.
“We’re going to beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate,” Schumer responded to five separate questions.
Schumer was asked if he was satisfied with Platner’s explanations for the controversies he has faced, and if he believes Platner’s former competitor, Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME), should reenter the race. Each question was met with the same response.
Platner also declined to answer questions from reporters as he entered the meeting with Schumer and other Senate Democrats earlier in the day.
While Schumer voiced confidence in Platner’s ability to beat Collins, other prominent Democrats are not as sure about his chances.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said he has “concerns” about Platner, adding that the candidate will have to address his scandals on the campaign trail.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who is known for splitting with his party on several issues, criticized Platner and compared the text scandal to disgraced former California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned from office in April after multiple women accused him of sexual assault and rape.
Platner’s past social media activity and a tattoo featuring a Nazi symbol have also caused controversy during his time campaigning.
He has referred to the reports about his extramarital engagements as “gossip” and claimed to have a “happy marriage.” As for his digital footprint and tattoo, he said the former were made during a troubled time in his life, while the latter he claimed to have gotten while drunk.
Maine’s Democratic primary will take place June 9, with Platner the de facto nominee after Mills suspended her campaign. Schumer had endorsed Mills, but shifted his backing to Platner after the governor’s withdrawal.
FETTERMAN COMPARES PLATNER’S SEXTING SCANDAL TO ERIC SWALWELL
A Maine statute allows Platner to withdraw from the general election before July 13 and subsequently be replaced by the Democratic Party even if he wins the primary on June 9. This law provides Democrats with a theoretical path to nominate a different candidate. The party would have to nominate his replacement by July 27.
Mills recently assured voters her name would still appear on the ballot, clarifying that she stopped actively campaigning in the Senate race. Schumer declined to answer if Tuesday’s meeting involved a plan to get Mills back in the race, and he reaffirmed he has endorsed Platner.
