A number of senior Democrats across the country are standing by Platner, an oyster farmer who gained significant momentum early in the race, and the party's only chance of taking on Republican Susan Collins.

Graham Platner is addressing a story published by the Wall Street Journal that alleges he sent explicit sexual messages to several women, calling it "gossip" intended to distract from discussion over his policy platform.

In a video statement the Democratic candidate's wife called reports of the sexually explicit texts “shameful” and accused the outlets of spreading gossip.

Platner reportedly in the past sent sexually explicit messages to women other than his wife, according to reports published over the weekend.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner and his campaign are responding to questions about his marriage and published reports that Platner sent sexually explicit test messages to other women after he married Amy Gertner three years ago.

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner