A left-wing Senate candidate in New York who gained attention for sporting Nazi tattoos he claims to regret now faces allegations he used a hookup app to sext with multiple women while married, according to photos and messages obtained by The New York Post.
Graham Platner, running as a progressive Democrat for Senate, reportedly maintained an active profile on Kik, a messaging app known for facilitating casual hookups and explicit conversations. The Post obtained screenshots showing Platner’s account and conversations with several women.
According to the report, Platner’s wife discovered the activity and brought it to the attention of his campaign staff. The revelation adds another layer of controversy to a candidacy already mired in questions about Platner’s past, including prominent Nazi imagery tattooed on his body that he has said he now disavows.
The timing could hardly be worse for New York Democrats, who have worked to present a unified front heading into the 2026 midterms. Platner entered the race positioning himself as a champion of progressive causes and working-class New Yorkers, but the personal conduct allegations threaten to derail his campaign before it gains serious traction.
Campaign officials have not issued a statement addressing the hookup app allegations. Multiple attempts to reach Platner’s team for comment went unanswered.
The Kik platform has drawn scrutiny in recent years for its use in facilitating anonymous communications, including among minors. While the app is legal and used by millions, it has become associated in public perception with casual sexual encounters and secretive behavior.
For voters already skeptical of political candidates who preach family values or progressive social policies while engaging in contradictory private behavior, the allegations fit a familiar pattern. The fact that Platner’s own wife reportedly flagged the issue to campaign staff suggests the matter may have been known internally before becoming public.
New York’s Senate race was already expected to be competitive, with Republicans sensing opportunity in suburban and upstate districts where voters have soured on Democratic leadership over crime, taxes, and quality of life issues. A scandal-plagued Democratic candidate could give the GOP an unexpected opening in a state that has trended blue in recent cycles.
Whether Platner remains in the race or faces pressure to withdraw will likely depend on how party leaders respond in the coming days. For now, his campaign appears to be in damage control mode with no clear path forward.
Key Points
- Graham Platner allegedly maintained an active profile on Kik messaging app to sext with women while married
- His wife discovered the activity and reported it to campaign officials, according to The New York Post
- The scandal adds to existing controversy over Platner’s Nazi tattoos, threatening his progressive Senate bid in New York
