SULLIVAN, Maine – A Maine parents’ advocacy organization is calling for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner (D) to be banned from school properties across the state following resurfaced online posts and a growing list of controversies that have engulfed his campaign.
In a media release issued Wednesday, Parents’ Rights in Education Maine and RSU 9 District Leader Emma Enman said recent reports involving Platner’s alleged past conduct have raised serious concerns among parents and community members regarding his presence at school-related political events and activities.
The controversy stems from resurfaced online posts allegedly tied to Platner that included graphic descriptions of sexual acts in public portable toilets. The reports sparked immediate backlash across Maine political circles, with critics questioning whether a candidate associated with such conduct should be holding campaign events on school grounds or appearing at educational facilities.
“Recent reports of U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner masturbating in porta potties have people concerned about him being on school property,” the release states.
“As a mother, I am deeply disturbed and disgusted by the recent graphic revelations regarding Graham Platner’s sexually deviant behaviors in public restrooms,” Enman said in the statement. “Graham Platner’s past predatory behaviors must end his political rallies at schools here across Maine.”
The organization also referenced Maine statute 17-A §854, which addresses indecent conduct involving sexual acts in places open to the public, including portable toilets.
The latest controversy adds to a series of damaging revelations and politically explosive statements that have continued to follow Platner throughout his Senate campaign.
Among the most scrutinized issues has been Platner’s acknowledgment of having a Nazi-related tattoo in his past, which critics have repeatedly highlighted as raising serious questions about judgment and character. The tattoo controversy has lingered over the campaign for months, with opponents arguing it undermines his attempts to portray himself as a unifying political figure.
Platner has also faced backlash over resurfaced comments critics interpreted as blaming women for sexual assault, comments about police that angered law enforcement supporters, and controversial online statements regarding African-Americans and tipping that opponents have labeled offensive and racially insensitive.
The accumulation of controversies has increasingly become a central issue in the Senate race, particularly as Platner attempts to campaign across Maine communities and public institutions.
Critics argue the repeated stream of online posts, inflammatory remarks, and past behavior patterns paint a troubling picture for a candidate seeking federal office. Supporters, meanwhile, have attempted to dismiss some of the resurfaced content as old posts or political attacks amplified during a heated campaign season.
Still, the pressure surrounding Platner appears to be intensifying, particularly among parents’ groups and conservative activists who say schools should not be venues for political events involving candidates facing allegations of inappropriate public sexual behavior.
The controversy comes as Maine’s Senate race continues drawing heightened statewide attention, with Platner remaining one of the most polarizing figures in Maine politics.
