Graham Platner’s own party is abandoning him days before Maine’s Democratic primary — and Pennsylvania Rep. Madeleine Dean just delivered the sharpest rebuke yet.
Dean told CNN Friday that Platner had “disqualified himself” from the race as allegations about his conduct continued mounting. “I think it’s so distressing all of the stories that are coming out, and they’re more and more it seems by the hour,” Dean said.
“He has disqualified himself in my eyes. He is not qualified to be a representative, a senator.”
Dean stopped short of calling on Platner to quit the race, but her statement marks another defection in what has become a full-scale Democratic civil war over the Maine Senate hopeful.
NEW: Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean says Graham Platner “has disqualified himself” from Maine Senate race.
“It’s so distressing — All of the stories that are coming out, and there are more and more, it seems, by the hour.” pic.twitter.com/XpqIBg4w27
— Boris Sanchez (@Boris_Sanchez) June 5, 2026
Platner has refused to step aside despite the pressure. His party remains split — some Democrats are distancing themselves while others continue backing him, according to The Hill.
California Rep. Ro Khanna defended the candidate in a statement to NBC News. “The behavior described in the New York Times story was wrong and toxic,” Khanna said. “Graham has acknowledged that and sought redemption.”
The candidate — an oyster farmer and combat veteran — has denied the most serious claims. Former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield told The New York Times that Platner allegedly grabbed her hard enough to leave bruises and once twisted her arm behind her back, according to Daily Caller reporting.
Platner called the accounts false and politically driven. He has also faced earlier scrutiny over sexually explicit texts to married women, a skull tattoo identified as a Nazi symbol, and old Reddit posts he has since apologized for.
The timing carries weight. Maine’s Democratic primary falls Tuesday.
Gov. Janet Mills suspended active campaigning but stays on the ballot, and her votes will still count, according to Fox News.
