Is Platner too “authentic”?
6/10/202626 min
Senate candidate Graham Platner swept the Maine Democratic primary no problem. The question is whether his "authenticity" can carry him past his scandals to a win in November. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Graham Platner at an event with voters in Portland, Maine. Photo by Laura Brett/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsNoel King· Host0:00
[funky music] After winning Maine's Democratic Senate primary last night, Grand Platner thanked his parents.
Graham Platner· Soundbite0:06
I wanna thank my mom and my dad. [laughing] Uh- Thanked his wife. Amy, Amy, Amy, Amy.
Noel King· Host0:14
Thanked the people of Maine, and talked maybe a bit more than your typical politician about redemption.
Graham Platner· Soundbite0:20
Redemption is not just some simple or easy destination. It's a journey. I've made mistakes in my life, mistakes that I regret, that I live with, and that I continue to learn from. And I'm still far from perfect.
Noel King· Host0:35
Platner, who got around 72% of the vote, will run against Republican Susan Collins in November. He has so far weathered an impressively diverse series of scandals, including did he know that was Nazi imagery tattooed on his chest? And why was he sexting women who are not his wife? And was he physically violent with his exes? Maine voters decided they can live with all that. Why, though? That's coming up on Today Explained.
Speaker 20:58
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