Democrats find themselves at a crossroads between power and principle when it comes to supporting scandal-plagued US Senate candidate Graham Platner in Maine … and most of them are choosing power.
Since the party’s narrow path to regaining power in the chamber likely lies in Platner’s ability to flip the seat in November, party leaders have a clear incentive to look the other way.
But one senator on that side of the aisle has no problem once again being his party’s squeaky wheel.
As The Hill reported:
“We’re the party of pearl clutching, and now we’ve embraced him because we don’t have a choice,” Fetterman told Fox News’s Laura Ingraham in an interview Friday.
“Like if you can’t really defend him, you could at least say, well, he has a ‘D’ after his name, but he’s not even a Democrat,” he continued. “He actually described himself as a communist.”
Platner emerged victorious from Maine’s Democratic primary on Tuesday, following a series of controversies about his past behavior. He is now set to face incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in November.
The Army veteran turned oyster farmer recently acknowledged allegations that he sent sexual messages to women who were not his wife early in their marriage, and several former girlfriends told The New York Times that he displayed “toxic” and “unsettling” behavior during their relationships.
One could argue whether there’s much daylight between Democrats and communists these days, but his point is otherwise solid.
It’s just the latest evidence of Fetterman’s willingness to call out abhorrent behavior regardless of party affiliation:
Asked about Dems trying to win a Senate majority, Fetterman says:
“I do too, but it's crazy that Captain dick pick is attacking me. I'm actually the only guy that actually flipped a seat, so he got to close his mouth until he can actually do something.“
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) June 10, 2026
NEW: Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) tells colleague @kayleighmcenany live on @FoxNews that if Graham Platner can prove all of the people he was chatting with on Kik & “sending dick pics to” were adults and there were no minors, he will wear a suit every day.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) June 6, 2026
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is among those trying to sidestep the topic entirely:
WELKER: “Does Graham Platner have the character to be a US Senator?”
JEFFRIES: “I’m just focused on making sure we take back control of the House.” pic.twitter.com/kXt92noScL
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 14, 2026
Of course, Politico noted that Fetterman and a few other Democrats are still holding out on their support for the controversial candidate:
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a potential 2028 contender who has kept his distance from Platner so far, said he thought Platner can defeat Collins and that “the path for us winning back control of the Senate runs through Maine.” But he still declined to endorse Platner, saying that he’d yet to meet or speak with the nominee. Asked whether Platner had done enough to address his scandals, Kelly said the oysterman has “got things to explain.”
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), who had previously endorsed Gov. Janet Mills in the Maine Senate race, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) also declined to endorse Platner on Wednesday. Cortez Masto rattled off other top Democratic targets in Iowa, North Carolina and Alaska, while Duckworth said she’s “focused on the Midwest.”
And Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), a frequent critic of his own party who has repeatedly raised concerns about Platner, said Maine Democrats have made their choice but “I would never [endorse Platner]. I’ll be a Democrat to refuse to carry water for that.”
Even Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who said Wednesday he would support all Democratic Senate nominees, suggested the oysterman still has “work to do” to address his scandals.
Here are some more of Fetterman’s recent remarks:
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