Brian Schatz to Fundraise for Graham Platner as Maine Democrat Raises $200,000 Amid Scandals
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 6
Brian Schatz to Fundraise for Graham Platner as Maine Democrat Raises $200,000 Amid Scandals
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 6
Summary
Brian Schatz will headline a fundraiser for Graham Platner, giving the Maine Senate candidate his first public show of support from a rising Senate Democratic leader.
Schatz had not previously endorsed Platner, though a campaign aide said he donated in May after Platner became the presumptive nominee under a practice of backing battleground Democrats who clear the field.
Platner is facing escalating allegations — sexually explicit texts to other women and, later, New York Times-reported claims of violent behavior and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol — all of which he denies.
More than $200,000 flowed into Platner’s campaign after the Times story, and he remains the only major Democrat left before Tuesday’s primary against Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Maine is Democrats’ top Senate pickup target and effectively a must-win for retaking the chamber, leaving the party split between urging Platner to quit and arguing he is still their strongest challenger.