Maine voters speak out on Graham Platner’s controversies
Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is embroiled in controversy over his past behavior, including allegations of abuse from ex-girlfriends and a controversial tattoo he previously bore. correspondent Alexis McAdams details the divided opinion among Maine voters as Platner prepares for Tuesday’s primary against GOP incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna’s support for Platner is also highlighted.
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Bill Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time,” endorsed Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner on Friday, saying he supported the Democrat’s run despite some of Platner’s “scary” positions and actions.
“I would still urge the folks in Maine to vote for him, for two reasons,” Maher said after listing off numerous controversies. “One, we need to restore balance in our government, and a Democratic Senate would help a lot with that.”
He then added, “And two, get used to it. America is a country filled with a lot of broken, horribly educated, phone-addicted, sort of nutty people. And as long as we live in a representative democracy, we are always electing our reflection in the mirror. I wish the tattoo was the scariest thing about Platner. It’s not. That would be his solution to a home invasion, which is to rape the home invader.”
According to a woman who previously dated Platner and now has raised concerns about alleged disturbing behavior, he previously told her: “He said this a lot: If anybody ever broke in here, I would rape them,” but not in a sexual or “gay” way, Lyndsey Fifield said, adding that Platner stated he would want to instead impose dominance over them through penetration and that he believed rape was about power.
THE GROWING LIST OF CONTROVERSIES THREATENING DEMOCRAT GRAHAM PLATNER’S MAINE SENATE BID
Split of Bill Maher and Graham Platner. (River Callaway/Getty Images, CJ Gunther/Getty Images)
“Let’s get real about Graham Platner,” Maher said. “The big story is the Democrats can likely take back the Senate in November if they win Maine. But their local candidate… is after the primary this week, let’s just say, a guy who has a backstory that screams, ‘don’t ask,’” Maher said.
“Now, I don’t judge Graham Platner because I’m just learning who he is,” Maher continued. “Problem is, so is he. What I do know is he served his country in the Marines in war, and you can never discount how big that is. But then there’s the sexting while married, uh, scary behavior. So, say some of his exes, old posts about how he’s a communist and all cops are bastards and black people don’t tip.”
Platner, who formally became the Democratic nominee to challenge incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, earlier this week, has grappled with his resurfaced past — receiving criticism for making off-color remarks on sexual abuse, race and terror and allegedly threatening behavior toward women.
He also has received criticism for a tattoo on his chest, which resembled the Nazi “Totenkopf” or Death’s Head, a symbol that was used by concentration camp guards.
“And then of course there’s the Nazi tattoo on his chest,” Maher said. “I mean, seriously, this guy’s whole life is the movie ‘The Hangover.’ He doesn’t need a term in the Senate. He needs a gap year in Costa Rica.”
Digital reached out to Platner for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Maher went on to say Mainers should vote for Platner.
‘THE VIEW’ ERUPTS AFTER HOSTIN DECLARES ‘I WOULD HOLD MY NOSE’ AND VOTE FOR SCANDAL-PLAGUED GRAHAM PLATNER
Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to an overflow crowd outside a campaign event Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo)
Later in the segment, Maher also took a jab at President Donald Trump’s communication style, connecting him to a new wave of politicians where bizarre behavior or comments don’t matter.
NYT PANEL DEBATES WHETHER GRAHAM PLATNER IS A ‘DIRTBAG’ OR DEMOCRATS’ ANSWER TO TRUMP-ERA POLITICS
Graham Platner addresses the crowd at his watch party after winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate at a YMCA in Blue Hill, Maine, on June 9, 2026. Platner will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the election for the seat. (Matthew Symons for Digital)
“Our current president just speaks out loud his internal monologue,” Maher said.
“You know what the internal monologue is, right,” he asked. “It’s just that stream of thoughts that we all have pouring through our heads all the time and that we all edit. We edit our thoughts. We don’t just fling all of our feces. We have a Strait of Hormuz between our brain and our mouth where we don’t let everything through. But not the president of the United States.”
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‘ Charles Creitz , Leo Briceno , Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
