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Jeff Edelstein of East Waterboro is a public policy mediator who has resolved conflict from the community level to Congress. He is the author of “From Oath to Action: Simple Acts of Courage to Rebuild American Democracy” and founder of Acts of Kindness Maine.
On June 9, in this paper, I called on Graham Platner to repair harm he may have caused in the past and to make personal integrity and combating violence against women the cornerstones of his campaign’s future. As I wrote then, “integrity is not about whether we make mistakes. It’s about what we do afterward.”
Platner’s candidacy may be over, but the duty of repair remains. And if he has the courage and humility to truly embrace repair and redemption, his political journey need not end. There may yet be a leadership role in his future. The choice is his.
No one except for Platner and Jennifer Racicot knows for sure what happened that night in 2021 in Racicot’s home because no one except the two of them was there. Before anyone claims I am protecting Platner, let me state that, through my deep involvement in advocacy and support for survivors and my own lived experience, I know the pain of not being believed and how hard it can be to speak one’s truth.
But what I see is that the evidence supporting Racicot’s description of that night’s events, and what Platner himself has shared about his past, all points towards Platner bearing the lion’s share, and possibly all, of the responsibility for doing her harm.
If there are legal consequences, Platner should accept those, but punishment alone for criminal wrongdoing does not necessarily repair the harm caused. Platner may need to do even more. Maine, alongside a number of other states, has been steadily embracing “restorative justice” programs, even for crimes as serious as sexual assault, because of the greater healing to victims and greater community wellbeing and safety such approaches can bring.
I believe true redemption calls for Platner to offer Racicot or anyone else who comes to him alleging harm, the opportunity to safely speak their truth of what they experienced; for efforts to be made to uncover the factual truth of whatever happened; and then for Platner to repair whatever harm is his to own. He can draw on skilled restorative practitioners to support and facilitate such actions.
Then there is the harm Platner has done to the Democratic Party. Repair in this case calls for him to work as hard to get the party’s new candidate elected — whoever that might be — as he would have worked on his own campaign. He still has many devoted followers — and may gain still more if he shows the courage, humility and integrity the moment calls for — who he can encourage to vote for, and work for, the new candidate, just as they would have on Platner’s own campaign.
Following the election, Platner can then turn towards societal repair, through advocacy for policies, programs and funding to help boys and young men grow into safe, responsible members of our communities, as well as to address gender-based, sexual, and domestic violence. There is much, no doubt, for him to learn in these areas, and he should immerse himself in that learning.
This work, along with possibly other policy advocacy in areas his campaign has focused on, should be his full-time occupation, just as serving in the U.S. Senate would have been. This, I believe, means either selling his oyster business or having someone else run it, just as he presumably would have done as a senator. He has acknowledged that his VA benefits provide him with the freedom to devote his time however he wishes.
Come 2028, if Platner has risen to these challenges, he may be ready to continue his political journey. If he still wishes to serve in elected office, he could run for the Maine Legislature or the U.S. House of Representatives. The voters will judge whether he is then ready for political leadership.
And then, in 2030, still young at age 45, if Platner has been serving the public with honor, integrity and effectiveness — in whatever capacity — the leadership opportunities would be limitless: re-election to the Maine Legislature or U.S House, if he has been serving; moving into legislative leadership; running for governor; or taking a shot at Maine’s other U.S. Senate seat, that will likely be open.
His could be a powerful tale of repair and redemption. A tale of becoming not just a better leader, but a different kind of leader. A leader committed to courage, humility, kindness and radical accountability. The type of inspirational leader that Maine, and our nation, so dearly need. It is up to Graham Platner whether to write — and live — that tale.
If you or someone you know needs resources or support related to sexual violence, contact the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s 24/7 hotline at 800-871-7741.