Former Senate Candidate Platner Returns to Oyster Farming in Sullivan After Campaign Collapse

Graham Platner, the Maine Democrat whose U.S. Senate campaign ended in July amid allegations of sexual misconduct, has returned to oyster farming in Sullivan and had a tense exchange with a reporter who approached him on the shore last week.

A video posted Thursday by the New York Post shows Platner reacting with irritation after paddling a kayak to shore and being approached by the outlet. “Who the f—k are you weirdos?” he said. Asked what he had been doing since leaving the race, he responded, “What the f–k does it look like I’m up to? I’m being an oyster farmer.”

Platner dropped out of the Senate race in July, clearing the way for state Sen. Troy Jackson (D) to take on incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in the November 3 election. Asked how the oyster business was going since then, Platner said, “It goes the way it always goes, friend,” adding, “People from away have no idea what it is we do for a living.”

When the reporter suggested his current life on the Maine coast might be more pleasant than campaigning in Washington, Platner said, “it just seems to be, like, life man.” He did not answer questions about the upcoming election and instead got into his truck and drove off.

Platner’s campaign had leaned heavily on a working-class, oysterman image, though reporting later found he attended a prominent New England prep school and that his oyster business’s only client was his mother’s restaurant.

Allegations that ended the campaign

Platner left the race after facing accusations of sexting women other than his wife, being violent with former partners, and a rape allegation. He has acknowledged sexting but denied the other allegations. He also faced criticism after it emerged he had a Nazi Death’s Head tattoo on his chest, which he later had covered. Platner said he got the tattoo while intoxicated with fellow Marines and was unaware of its meaning at the time.

Life back in Sullivan

Neighbors in Sullivan say Platner appears to be doing better since leaving the campaign trail. Josh Winer, owner of the Dunbar Store, which still carries a roast beef sandwich named after Platner on its deli menu, described him as “just a regular person again.”

“He looks a whole lot more healthy than he did,” Winer said. “Now it’s just him again. He gets a sandwich on his own. We talk about oysters. It’s back to normal.”

Winer said Platner has been a regular customer for years and returned to the store when he could even during the campaign.

Not everyone in town shares that view. A local fruit seller told the outlet to “just drop it,” adding, “He’s not a favorite around here. Especially with the women.”