Graham Platner’s downfall reminds us: toxic masculinity isn’t leadership

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Graham Platner’s exit from the Maine Senate race has once again put toxic masculinity at the center of our political conversation. His withdrawal reflects a broader struggle over what kind of leadership Americans are willing to reward.

The battle over masculinity may be one of the defining political forces of the 2026 midterms. We’re at an inflection point in gender politics, with the rise of the “manosphere” reshaping political discourse, expanding President Trump’s appeal among young male voters, and normalizing attitudes toward women that were once widely rejected.

Platner is just the latest example of a culture that continues to excuse, protect and promote powerful men despite credible allegations and clear warning signs. Again and again, women are told to stay quiet, wait their turn, or accept that accountability can come later.

Research from Penn State University found that adherence to “hegemonic masculinity” independently predicted support for Trump in both 2016 and 2020, even after accounting for political party affiliation, gender, race and education. The researchers define hegemonic masculinity as the belief that men should dominate positions of power, be mentally, physically and emotionally tough, and reject traits perceived as feminine or gay.

When political strength becomes synonymous with domination rather than accountability, allegations of abuse are more easily dismissed — and survivors more easily ignored.

That dynamic has only intensified. In 2024, young men shifted sharply to the right, moving 15 percentage points toward Republicans compared with 2020. Appearances on podcasts such as Joe Rogan’s helped Trump improve his standing among younger voters, from 35 percent in 2020 to 42 percent.

At the same time, conservative leaders have embraced explicitly gendered cultural messaging, replacing Pride Month in several states with proclamations celebrating the “nuclear family” and “fidelity.” Debates over gender roles, feminism and women’s equality have become central to today’s politics.

But voters are sending a different message. A nationwide survey we commissioned after the release of the Epstein files shows that Americans are paying close attention to how lawmakers and political candidates respond to survivors of sexual violence and whether institutions hold powerful people accountable.

Those concerns transcend party lines. The survey, conducted by Lincoln Park Strategies, found that 61 percent of Americans believe institutions protect perpetrators, 56 percent say women feel less safe reporting abuse, and 60 percent would vote based on a candidate’s position on accountability for sexual violence.

“The data identifies three distinct persuadable constituencies that, in combination, represent a meaningful electoral threat to incumbents and candidates who are seen as indifferent to holding perpetrators accountable,” says Stefan Hankin, Lincoln Park founder and president.

These groups include soft Republicans, independents (particularly in swing states) and ticket-splitters — that is, voters who supported Joe Biden in 2020 but voted Republican in 2024.

The demand for accountability is particularly intense among Gen Z and women of color. Sixty-nine percent of women of color say women feel less safe reporting abuse in the wake of the Epstein files — the highest level of alarm of any group surveyed.

For many less-engaged voters, elections are driven as much by identity and personality as by policy. Platner was widely portrayed as a rugged, masculine figure who, as The New York Times observed, “offered a masculine model for life that was rare on the left.” His candidacy illustrates how cultural ideas about masculinity can shape political appeal despite serious allegations of misconduct.

But toxic masculinity isn’t genuine leadership. Young men are searching for healthier models of masculinity rooted in integrity, accountability and respect. Yet many encounter online ecosystems that reward misogyny, grievance and hostility toward women.

Meanwhile, violence against women has become an increasingly urgent political issue, fueled by growing concerns over sexual violence, institutional accountability and the chilling rise of AI-generated abuse.

AI has transformed harassment from something women feared in private into something that can be weaponized at scale. Deepfake pornography, impersonation and other forms of AI-enabled abuse allow misogyny to spread faster, farther and more anonymously than ever before.

Technology has not made women safer. It has just made misogyny cheaper.

These are not abstract policy debates for women. They reflect lived experiences and everyday concerns about safety, dignity and whether powerful men will continue to be shielded from consequences.

The 2026 midterms will determine more than who wins elections. They will help decide whether our politics continues to reward performative masculinity and excuse abuse, or whether voters demand a different standard of leadership.

As more women — and the growing coalition of men who stand with them — bring their voices and votes to the ballot box, they can redefine the leadership our nation deserves: leadership grounded in integrity, character and accountability.

Our recent survey suggests voters are ready for that conversation. The question is whether candidates are.

Kim Villanueva is president of the National Organization for Women.

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2026 midterm elections

Graham Platner

Maine

Senate

toxic masculinity

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