Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said allegations against Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner are "hard to stomach," but stressed that voters will ultimately decide the outcome of the race against Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
On Tuesday, speaking to CNN outside the Capitol, Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged the concerns surrounding Platner's past conduct but framed the election as a broader political decision.
"Obviously, there's a lot in that behavior that's really challenging — it's hard to stomach," she said.
She added, "But at the end of the day, I think it's a choice."
Platner faced scrutiny over past social media posts, reports about a controversial tattoo, and allegations involving inappropriate messages.
Last week, in an interview with MS Now, he denied some of the more serious accusations, saying, "There are some allegations in this piece that…are simply not true," while acknowledging past behavior he says he has taken responsibility for.
Platner's campaign has also rejected claims of physical intimidation, saying some accusations are "politically motivated."
Collins said Platner "owes the people of Maine a detailed answer" regarding what she called "extremely troubling" allegations, reported The Hill.
Platner, a political newcomer and oyster farmer, won Maine's Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday, moving on to face Collins in the November general election.
The Associated Press called the race for Platner, who previously served on a local planning board and ran a campaign centered on change and redemption despite scrutiny over past comments and conduct.
Democrats view Maine as a key pickup opportunity in their effort to win control of the Senate, particularly in a state that backed Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024.
In other races, South Carolina's Republican gubernatorial contest advanced to a runoff, while Sen. Lindsey Graham secured his party's nomination and was praised by President Donald Trump for a "BIG WIN."
