Graham Platner's Character Issues Create an Impossible Choice for Maine Voters
Source: Christina Cauterucci. "Graham Platner New York Times story: Can he beat Susan Collins?." June 5, 2026. slate.com
The Gist
The author argues that Maine voters are stuck with a terrible choice: they can vote for Graham Platner, who would be better on the issues but has serious problems with how he treats women, or Susan Collins, who has hurt women's rights through her policies but doesn't have the same personal scandals. It's a lose-lose situation.
Conclusion
Maine voters face an impossible choice between Graham Platner (who has serious character flaws but correct policy positions) and Susan Collins (who has a poor policy record but fewer personal scandals)
Premises
- Platner has a documented pattern of mistreating women, including alleged physical abuse, sexting multiple women while married, and general disrespect toward women
- Platner has repeatedly lied to the public, Democratic leaders, and even his own campaign about having nothing else to hide
- The mounting scandals show Platner has poor judgment and a 'careless, self-destructive streak' that continues into recent years
- Despite these character flaws, Platner would still be better on policy than Susan Collins, who helped overturn Roe v. Wade and enabled Trump
- Maine voters appear willing to overlook character issues because they want a 'fresh-faced Trump antagonist' and are 'sick of aging Democrats with polished demeanors'
Assumptions
- Character and personal conduct are relevant factors in evaluating political candidates
- A pattern of past behavior is predictive of future behavior in office
- Voters should weigh both character and policy positions when making electoral choices
- The allegations against Platner are credible and represent genuine character flaws rather than political attacks