Platner Denies Former Staffer’s Claims as “False” During Bath Event

Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner faced questions about recent campaign turmoil during a packed town hall meeting at Bath’s Chocolate Church Arts Center Thursday, while emphasizing his focus on working-class issues and personal journey from military service to Maine oyster farming.

Platner, who is challenging longtime Republican incumbent Susan Collins for her Senate seat, addressed the recent departure of his campaign’s political director, Genevieve McDonald, when questioned by a student in attendance. The resignation has generated controversy over non-disclosure agreements and allegations about Platner’s past.

“My former political director left in a friction-filled moment on the campaign,” Platner told the audience. “And sadly, after they left, I think they were expecting the campaign to fall apart, and that did not happen, and then she took to Facebook and made a lot of claims, quite frankly that are just fundamentally false.”

McDonald, a former state representative and lobbyist, resigned on October 17 amid growing scrutiny of Platner’s past online comments. Following her departure, she publicly stated that his posts reflected values she could no longer support and criticized the campaign for not being transparent about them earlier.

The disagreement intensified when McDonald alleged that Platner had knowingly maintained a controversial tattoo for 20 years. Platner firmly rejected this characterization, stating that McDonald was present when he first learned reporters had questions about the marking, which he has since covered.

Platner defended the campaign’s use of NDAs, describing them as standard practice in political operations. He explained they were issued to all staff after a compliance firm evaluated internal procedures, though reports indicate McDonald declined a severance package tied to such an agreement, which was later voided.

Beyond addressing the staffing controversy, Platner devoted significant time to sharing his personal story with Maine voters. An Eastern Maine native, he described military deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan that left him struggling with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder upon return. He credited Maine’s VA healthcare system with helping him rebuild his life, allowing him to serve on the Sullivan planning board and as a harbormaster while establishing his oyster farm.

“Maine politics has drifted toward partisan messaging and away from the daily needs of residents,” Platner told attendees, emphasizing issues like housing affordability, healthcare access, and economic stability in rural communities. His campaign has positioned him as an advocate for working Mainers who face increasing cost-of-living challenges.

Platner directly criticized Senator Collins, arguing that her “performative centrism and symbolic gestures do not address hospital closures, rising rents or the cost of food and fuel” affecting everyday Mainers. He highlighted his commitment to accessibility, contrasting the dozens of public events he has held since launching his campaign in August with what he characterized as Collins’ less robust town hall presence over her decades in office.

“Maine deserves better than Susan Collins,” Platner stated, emphasizing the disconnect he perceives between the incumbent senator and economic realities facing working families in the state.

The Bath event represents part of Platner’s ongoing strategy to maintain direct voter contact, consistently drawing large crowds across the state. His campaign has garnered significant attention both within Maine and nationally, despite internal challenges including McDonald’s departure and several other staff exits.

As the primary season progresses, Platner’s ability to navigate these controversies while connecting his military experience and personal struggles to broader policy issues appears to be central to his campaign strategy. The candidate has vowed to maintain direct voter engagement if elected to the Senate, continuing the town hall approach that has become a hallmark of his campaign.

The Democratic primary winner will face Senator Collins, who has represented Maine in the U.S. Senate since 1997 and has built a reputation as one of the Republican party’s more moderate voices in Washington.