Scandal-Plagued Maine Democrat Could Shift Senate Battle to Iowa

Democrats hoping to retake the U.S. Senate are watching Maine's primary election Tuesday with growing anxiety. Their likely nominee, Graham Platner, has faced a string of controversies that could put the party's entire Senate map in jeopardy, and that means races in red states like Iowa could suddenly become must-win contests.

Maine Controversies Put Pressure on Democratic Senate Hopes

Platner, an oyster farmer and Marine Corps veteran, emerged as a political outsider and quickly gained popularity in Maine. But scandals have followed him at every turn. The latest came Thursday, when the New York Times reported that three ex-girlfriends described his behavior as volatile and, by one account, physically rough. Platner denied that allegation but has previously addressed controversies related to texting women outside his marriage, a Nazi-style tattoo, and old Reddit posts.