The Split Is Now Public — And Getting Messier

Democratic divisions over Graham Platner are playing out in real time, on camera, with names attached.

Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) told CNN Monday that Maine voters should reject Platner over his controversial tattoo, calling it "personally disqualifying." A sitting Democratic congressman was effectively telling voters to hand Susan Collins another term. His own party noticed immediately.

By Tuesday afternoon, Auchincloss posted a partial retreat on X. "If it were me I'd vote for someone else in the Maine Democratic primary," he wrote — conspicuously naming no alternative. He added he'd "keep working hard" to take back the Senate.

Khanna Goes All-In — On Purpose

While establishment Democrats scrambled for the exits, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) announced a rally with Platner scheduled for June 5, posting a video declaring Platner is "gonna stand up to the billionaire class, stand up to the Epstein class, and have the guts to call what happened in Gaza a genocide," according to Breitbart News, which first reported the announcement.

Then reports surfaced about explicit text messages. Khanna didn't back away.

On Saturday he posted: "I am proud of @grahamformaine for having the character to stand up against the war in Iran, against genocide, and against an unfair & lopsided economy." The rally remained scheduled.

Khanna planted himself on the progressive side of the intraparty fight — and used Platner as the centerpiece.

What the Wife's Video Actually Accomplished

Platner's wife issued a video defense of the marriage in response to reports — confirmed by Fox News — that she had previously told his campaign he sent explicit messages to multiple women in the early part of their marriage.

The video drew criticism from multiple outlets. The campaign's decision to release it may have amplified the story rather than contained it.

Her statement called the reports "gossip" — but the sourcing on the original allegations was her own prior statements to his campaign. That's difficult to dismiss as hearsay.

The Full Controversy Picture — Because Media Keeps Leaving Parts Out

Mainstream coverage has largely focused on the infidelity texts. Here's what else has been reported across multiple outlets:

• A Kik messaging app account in Platner's name, featuring a shirtless profile photo, was found active. His campaign said he deleted the app but did not deactivate the account. Breitbart News notes the platform "has been the center of numerous pedophilia scandals."
• Reddit posts under the handle "P-Hustle" — attributed to Platner — included a June 2019 comment about military contractors "banging hookers in Thailand" instead of dealing with wives at home, per Breitbart News.
• A separate post reportedly admitted to masturbating in porta-potties.
• Platner refused to apologize to a Purple Heart recipient he insulted online.

Left-leaning coverage has largely soft-pedaled or omitted the Reddit and Kik details. Right-leaning outlets ran them prominently. The full record includes all of it.

The "Vote Blue No Matter Who" Trap

The Intercept frames this most clearly: the left has spent years demanding progressives fall in line behind centrist nominees. Now centrists like Auchincloss are refusing to do the same for a progressive — and the left is pointing out the double standard.

Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, drew criticism after comparing Democratic centrists withholding support from Platner to the "Uncommitted" movement that pressured Biden over Gaza. The Intercept called the comparison "so out of proportion it defies rational explanation."

Meanwhile, Gov. Janet Mills — Sen. Chuck Schumer's preferred candidate — dropped out last month after failing to gain traction. The establishment's backup plan evaporated. They're now stuck.

What Mainstream Coverage Is Getting Wrong

CNN and left-leaning outlets are treating this as a "will Democrats unify?" process story. It's actually a candidate with a documented, multi-front personal conduct record that his own campaign was informed about — and chose to sit on.

Fox News is covering the scandals but framing the story primarily as Democratic chaos, which undersells the legitimate question of whether Platner's conduct itself — independent of party politics — disqualifies him from representing Maine in the U.S. Senate.

Voters deserve to know the full record. Every piece of it. Then they decide.

What This Means for Regular People in Maine

Maine voters are being asked to choose between a Republican incumbent, Susan Collins, and a Democratic challenger whose campaign is now defined by infidelity allegations, crude social media posts, and a contested app account — with half his own party running away from him and the other half doubling down for ideological reasons.

The June 5 Khanna rally will indicate whether Platner has a base that can survive this, or whether the progressive show of support is enough to stabilize his candidacy.

Susan Collins is watching closely.