The Platner Problem

But despite her popularity in Maine, Mills’ run never took off. In an era when voters are demanding change, the steady-as-she-goes term-limited Governor could not find traction. Instead Democrats in the state gravitated toward the newcomer. They thought Platner was a compelling figure, a harbormaster and veteran ready to buck the system. 

Then, of course, Platner’s history started coming to light. In October, he had to answer for the resurfacing of angry, sexist, and often vulgar Reddit posts he wrote during what he acknowledges was a troubled stretch of his life. It also came out in October that a tattoo he’d gotten in 2013 while in the Marines bore a strong resemblance to the Nazi totenkopf, a hate symbol infamously worn by SS guards at concentration camps. Platner had it covered up and denied knowing its meaning. His campaign survived it all. 

But recently, rumors started swirling that there was another bomb to drop. The Wall Street Journal and New York Times reported in late May that Platner’s wife had told a campaign staffer he’d sent sexually explicit messages to women early in their marriage. Kik, an app Platner was using to message women, is frequently used for anonymous interaction, which has made it a target of online safety concerns. (Platner has said he only exchanged messages with consenting adult women on the app.) Another story in the Times published Thursday quoted ex-girlfriends who described toxic relationships. One ex, Lyndsey Fifield, who has also worked in Republican politics, said Platner was physically intimidating. He grabbed her roughly by the shoulders, she said, and once held her in a room against her will. (Other former partners defended Platner, who acknowledged bad behavior but denies ever physically hurting an ex.)