Hillary Clinton on Maine Senate Candidate Scandals

Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, responded to questions on Monday about her stance on Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner. When asked if she supported Platner, her response was non-committal. “I feel about him the way I feel about any candidate,” Clinton remarked at an event at 92NY. “I want to see what kind of candidate he actually turns out to be.”

During her remarks, Clinton seemed to minimize the importance of Platner’s controversies, referring to them as “bumps on the road” in terms of his character development.

“The bumps on the road that he has experienced and some of the things he has said,” Clinton commented, with The New Yorker editor David Remnick probing further.

Remnick appeared skeptical, questioning Clinton’s dismissal of the allegations against Platner.

“Yeah, clearly bumps on the road in terms of his prior behavior, some of his prior statements,” Clinton replied. She suggested that Susan Collins, the current Maine Senator, would pose a significant challenge in the election, admitting, “It’s going to be a tough election. So I’m reserving.”

When asked by Remnick who she would vote for in Maine, Clinton quipped, “I’m not a Mainer. I’m a New Yorker.”

Shifting the discussion, Clinton emphasized the critical nature of the Democratic Party regaining control of the House of Representatives in 2026. Platner’s campaign has been troubled by various controversies, including accusations of inappropriate messages and social media posts, a controversial tattoo, and turmoil within his campaign staff.

New allegations emerged in a New York Times report, highlighting violent episodes and questionable behavior with former girlfriends. Despite facing these scandals, many Democratic figures remain supportive of Platner. Others, however, have chosen to distance themselves from his campaign.