Democratic dread in Maine: From the Politics Desk

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In today’s edition, we dive into the Democratic response to the latest Graham Platner controversy and the questions that still surround Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s absence.

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Democrats navigate a new Graham Platner controversy in Maine’s battleground Senate race

By Natasha Korecki, Bridget Bowman and Sahil Kapur

For the Democratic Party, the road to Maine’s Senate primary is paved in dread.

All Graham Platner had to do was glide into Tuesday’s election to clinch the state’s Democratic Senate nomination, since Gov. Janet Mills abruptly suspended her campaign in late April. But with each passing day, the divisions inside the party have grown as some lawmakers and activists say they are increasingly alarmed over the breadth and depth of controversies and scandals facing the military veteran.

As some Democrats nervously wondered what the next controversy might be, they worried he might be too risky a candidate to face off against the party’s great white whale: longtime Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins .

Some were already researching the mechanism to replace Platner should he withdraw from the ticket when the next shoe dropped Thursday afternoon.

In a lengthy report , The New York Times interviewed three of Platner’s former girlfriends, who described his behavior as “toxic” and “unsettling” at times. One woman, Lyndsey Fifield , recounted an argument when they dated — from roughly 2013 to 2015 — during which Platner “twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed from the other side so she couldn’t get out, telling her to remain there until she was ‘calm.’” Fifield also claimed that Platner knew the meaning behind a Nazi tattoo he has since covered.

NBC News has not confirmed the details in the Times’ report.

In an interview last night on MS NOW , Platner said some allegations in the Times story “are simply not true.”

“Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging that I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of someone who’s politically motivated,” he said. He also insisted he hasn’t considered dropping out of the race at any point in the past week.

Democrats are still digesting the new report, but initial reactions ranged from wishing Platner would step aside to supporters’ digging in their heels. So far, there has been no mass exodus from those who had endorsed him.

Platner still intends to hold a rally scheduled for later today in Bar Harbor, and Rep. Ro Khanna , D-Calif., who was set to appear with him, still plans to be there, a person familiar with the plans said.

“The behavior described in the New York Times story was wrong and toxic,” Khanna said in a statement. “Graham has acknowledged that and sought redemption. The people of Maine deserve a senator who is going to stand up to the billionaire class, against genocide, and for the working class.”

Likewise, some Platner backers forged ahead.

“It’s a lot harder to dislodge us because we know the man. We’ve met the man,” said Democratic state Rep. Valli Geiger , who described Platner as a generational talent.

Missing congressman and his staff paint a picture of business as usual

By Scott Wong and Kyle Stewart

In recent weeks, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has launched a “Hometown Heroes” program honoring first responders in his district. He has said he’s joining the Congressional Crypto Caucus . And he announced he had co-sponsored a bill to combat discrimination against Sikh Americans.

Looking at those social media posts, you’d have no idea that Kean, a 57-year-old New Jersey Republican, hasn’t voted or been seen in public for three months.

Kean’s office has posted almost daily on X, Instagram and other social media sites as he deals with what his team has called a “personal medical issue.”

Absent from Washington, Kean has continued to author legislation , including a bill introduced May 29 that focuses on the screening and early detection of pre-eclampsia. He has also submitted remarks to the Congressional Record that make it appear that he was in the Capitol delivering a speech. “I rise today to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Jewish Federation of West Central New Jersey,” said an entry from Kean on Tuesday.

Kean’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment for this article.

It’s not unusual for lawmakers’ staffs to post updates for them. And Kean isn’t the first member of Congress to have social media posts implying he is staying active and engaged with his constituents while he is out of the public eye . But the posts have raised eyebrows as his whereabouts remain unknown and his office has stayed tight-lipped about why.

“If they’re talking to him and he’s signing off on these things, that’s one thing. If they’re doing it without consulting with him, that’s another. I don’t think the latter is acceptable,” said a New Jersey Democratic lawmaker who has tried to get in touch with Kean without success and spoke on the condition of anonymity about the private outreach. “No one has any idea what’s f----- going on with him. Like, literally no one knows.”

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That’s all From the Politics Desk for now. Today’s newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Annelise Hanson.

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