Congressional Democrats wrestled with fresh accusations Sunday as Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, faced claims of physical intimidation from former partner Lyndsey Fifield. Representative Ro Khanna said he believed Fifield’s account and urged Platner’s campaign not to attack her, while Platner’s team denied any wrongdoing.

The New York Times detailed three women describing Platner’s volatile, demeaning behavior, and a May 30 report revealed he exchanged sexual messages with outsiders as recently as last year. Senator Mark Warner called the allegations “beyond disturbing” but left the decision to Maine voters, noting the Trump era has lowered personal‑conduct standards for candidates.

Progressive backers, including Bernie Sanders, defended Platina’s policy agenda, arguing his veteran status and stance on “rigged economy” outweigh personal scandals. Moderates such as Tom Suozzi warned the controversy could jeopardize a crucial Senate battle against incumbent Susan Collins. The race now hinges on whether voters separate Platner’s platform from the mounting personal‑behavior claims.