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A House Democrat called his party’s presumptive Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner’s personal history “disqualifying” on Monday, highlighting the difficulties Democrats may face in a race that could determine the balance of power in Washington.
“I think it would be a mistake for the Democratic Party to think that Graham Platner’s brand of the Democratic Party is what wins us durable majorities throughout this country,” said Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass, the day Platner appeared at a rally alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Platner is likely to become the Democrat nominee after his main opponent, Gov. Janet Mills, dropped out of the primary, clearing the way for him to oppose Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.
Platner has branded himself as an anti-establishment Democrat, putting Senate Democrats on blast for acceding to Republicans in previous shutdown fights. He also has accused the Israeli government of committing “genocide” and argues he is opposed to billionaires’ influence in politics.
His campaign has employed strategist Morris Katz, who assisted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s successful campaign.
Platner has come under fire for controversial online forum posts in which he said women should “act like an adult” to avoid rape and ridiculed rural white voters and black people.
Last week, Fox News Digital reported on a post in which Platner said a wounded American serviceman was a “Dumb motherf—er [who] didn’t deserve to live.” Platner refused to apologize for the comment, telling Fox News, “Any attempt to say that I disrespect veterans is slanderous and offensive.”
Platner also has faced criticism for having previously had a tattoo that resembled the German “Totenkopf” symbol associated with Nazi Germany.
Platner has claimed to have been unaware of the tattoo’s historical associations and has since had it covered. Platner has asked voters to look past his online history, saying, “I’m asking you not to judge me for the worst thing I said on the internet on my worst day 14 years ago.”
The Democrat has continued to be haunted by more negative stories as more of his controversial and off-color online comments have resurfaced.
Auchincloss took aim at these scandals.
“I find that tattoo and his commentary about it personally disqualifying,” Auchincloss said. “I hope Maine voters agree with me.”
The Massachusetts Democrat had called for Platner to drop out over his scandals as early as Oct. 2025, before Mills dropped out.
The Cook Political Report currently rates the Senate race a “Toss Up.” Democrats need to net four additional seats in order to win control of the Senate.
Collins has a history of outperforming the polls. In her 2020 campaign, she trailed her Democrat opponent in every single public poll, and by double digits in some polls. She ultimately won the race by more than eight points.
A moderate Republican, she has remained in office for almost three decades in a state that has only elected Democrats for president during that time period.
Platner’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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