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Paxton and Platner visit Washington to shore up support for their controversial Senate candidacies

Platner visited Washington to shore up Democratic support amid concerns about his candidacy and the race against Susan Collins.

Paxton and Platner visit Washington to shore up support for their controversial Senate candidacies
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Outlet credibilityKSAT86/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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Associated Press96/100 HIGH

457 stories · 96–97 · updated Oct 5, 2026

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KSATcites Associated Press
Jun 2, 2026
tl;dr

Senate candidates Ken Paxton and Graham Platner visited Washington to shore up party support as both face concerns about their ability to win competitive races. Their campaigns come as control of the Senate is at stake in the November midterms.

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VOTING CLOSED
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No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Platner in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Platner’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maine

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from Texas

Paxton's version of this story ↗
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
D · NY · SEN

Senator and chair of the Democratic Senate campaign organization

Democratic nominee for the Texas Senate race

Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Republican senator and Platner’s prospective general-election opponent

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who met with and endorsed Paxton

Former president referenced in a comparison of Maine’s past election results

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Vermont senator who supported Platner

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader expected to meet with Paxton

Martin Heinrich
D · NM · SEN

New Mexico senator who endorsed Platner

John Fetterman
D · PA · SEN

Pennsylvania senator who criticized Platner

Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

Senate Democratic leader who met with Platner and discussed the race

Former Biden White House chief of staff and co-host of a Platner fundraiser

Roger Marshall
R · KS · SEN

Kansas senator who publicly supported Paxton

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator and co-host of a Paxton fundraiser

Elizabeth Warren
D · MA · SEN

Massachusetts senator who said she wanted to hear Platner discuss the economy

Maine governor and former Democratic Senate candidate

Beto O'Rourke
Former U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Former Texas Senate candidate referenced in a comparison of the state’s competitiveness

John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator defeated by Paxton in the Republican runoff

Part of a bigger story

20 OUTLETS
Graham Platner Meets With Democratic Senators in Washington

Graham Platner met with Democratic senators in Washington as his campaign faced scrutiny over reported personal messages and concerns about his candidacy. Center outlets mostly describe Democrats weighing support amid scrutiny, including differing reactions from party figures. Right-leaning outlets focus more sharply on Schumer’s continued backing and present the controversies as a political liability.

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