Graham Platner’s wife says she's ‘really angry’ his extramarital sexting was publicly disclosed

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing renewed scrutiny after reports emerged that his wife had previously informed campaign aides about sexually explicit text messages he exchanged with several women earlier in their marriage.

Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, publicly addressed the issue in a video posted to social media. Gertner criticized media coverage surrounding the allegations and defended the couple’s relationship.

“Being married is hard,” Gertner said in the video, adding that the couple has worked through personal challenges. "Being newly married is hard."

The Wall Street Journal first reported that Gertner alerted Platner’s campaign in August 2025 after discovering the messages earlier that year. According to the WSJ report, campaign aides reviewed the matter during an internal vetting process shortly after Platner launched his Senate bid. Staff members ultimately decided the issue was personal and did not pose a political threat to the campaign.

“It makes me really angry, disappointed,” Gertner said, addressing the reports.

Platner, a military veteran, has emerged as a leading Democratic contender in Maine’s closely watched Senate race against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Democrats view the seat as critical to their efforts to regain Senate control in the 2026 election cycle.

The sexting allegations are the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Platner’s campaign. In recent months, he has faced criticism over resurfaced Reddit posts containing offensive language and over a tattoo that critics said resembled a Nazi-associated symbol. Platner has apologized for the posts and said the tattoo was a mistake he later covered.