BAR HARBOR, Maine - Graham Platner's past relationships were "toxic and volatile," Rep.Ro Khanna of California says of the Senate Democratic candidate aiming to unseat longtime Republican Sen.
Susan Collins in one of this year's most crucial ballot box showdowns.But Khanna, a progressive leader from California who along with Sen.Bernie Sanders of Vermont is backing Platner, argued in a Fox News Digital interview on Friday night that Platner is "taking accountability" for his past and "we need that redemption in this country."Platner, the military combat veteran and oyster farmer who is considered the Democrats' presumptive nominee ahead of Tuesday's primary in Maine, has been playing defense amid multiple controversies, ranging from inflammatory online comments made on Reddit, a well-publicized and now-covered up tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol, to new allegations this week from ex-girlfriends of a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes.The candidate is arguably facing the roughest stretch to date of his campaign against Collins, in a race that is one of a handful across the country which will decide if the Republicans hold on to their slim Senate majority in this year's midterm elections.THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE'S MAJORITYDemocratic Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks to supporters at a rally in Bar Harbor, Maine, on June 5, 2026 (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)Collins, returning to Maine on Friday after a busy week on Capitol Hill where she reached a milestone by casting her 10,000th consecutive vote in the Senate, was asked by reporters about the latest allegations facing Platner."The allegations in the latest story are troubling," Collins responded.
"And I believe that Graham Platner has a lot of questions to answer."Collins, a moderate Republican who at times votes against President Donald Trump's agenda, is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate in left-leaning Maine.DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP...