Democratic Senate Candidate Wins Maine Primary Despite Past Controversies

Graham Platner won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Maine on Tuesday and will face Sen. Susan Collins in the November general election. Rep. Ro Khanna said voters are giving Platner an opportunity to rebuild credibility after a series of controversies about his past surfaced.

"He understands he needs to do work; he understands they're giving him a chance at redemption," Khanna said on CNN's The Source with Kaitlan Collins.

Primary Context Gov.

Janet Mills dropped out of the race in April, leaving Platner as the main Democratic contender. Khanna described Platner's victory speech as showing "humility and strength" and noted that Platner discussed the need to earn people's votes. Platner addressed redemption in his speech.

"I've made mistakes in my life, mistakes that I regret, that I live with, that I continue to learn from," he said. A New York Times report last week detailed accounts from ex-girlfriends describing a lack of respect for women. He also faces criticism over sexually explicit messages sent while married.

Platner received scrutiny over a tattoo he got during military service depicting a Totenkopf, a Nazi symbol. He said he had no idea of its meaning and later covered the tattoo. " The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.