Top Democratic officials and lawmakers are distancing themselves from Democratic Maine Sen. Graham Platner as his past mistakes and Internet history pile up.
Platner’s rise to the top of the ticket in Vacationland has split the Democratic Party in Washington, DC, and since Maine Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of the race, questions have been raised about whether she is ready to take on Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has exploded.
Much of that is fueled by scandals that pop up week after week, whether it’s his chest tattoo of a Nazi symbol or inflammatory posts on the Internet.
Some in the Democratic Party are warning that a “civil war” is brewing between the center and left wings of the party.
Melissa DeRosa, a former chief of staff to New York Mayor Andrew Cuomo, told Bret Baier of Fox News that Platner’s elevation and subsequent questions about his suitability as a candidate reflect the tensions within the Democratic Party.
“The at-large race really shows the civil war that’s happening within the Democratic Party, and there are a lot of Democrats, moderate Democrats like myself, who won’t shed a tear if we lose in Maine,” DeRosa said.
“I mean, that would be the first download.”
Senate Democrats view Maine as one of the best pick-up opportunities in the 2026 midterm cycle in their bid to regain control of the upper chamber.
Platner isn’t exactly what the club’s management wanted, but since jumping into the race last year, he’s built a growing national following that peaked earlier this month when he landed on the cover of Time magazine.
Still, his unearthed Reddit posts — from slapping a soldier shot by the Taliban to masturbating in portable toilets — have drawn new scrutiny from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and Democrats alike.
“Democrats’ shift from quietly parting ways with Platner to publicly abandoning him proves that his burden is catching up with him, and Maine voters will not forgive,” NRSC spokeswoman Bernadette Breslin told Fox News Digital.
“Platner’s wayward and scandalous history is only the beginning of his problems.”
And top Democrats in the House and Senate, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., were silent after being pressed recently by Fox News Digital about their support for Platner.
Former Biden press secretary Yemisi Egbewole told Fox News’ Bill Melugin that Democrats, especially those who support Platner, should be held accountable for his behavior.
“I think when we’re talking about moral clarity and what we want to see from the Democrats, I think he’s a problem,” Egbewole said.
Platner’s ordeal on the national stage began when a video of her dancing naked went viral last year.
On his chest was a tattoo of a skull and crossbones that is synonymous with the Nazi symbol known as the totenkopf, or death’s head.
At the time, Platner said he didn’t know what it was.
“It wasn’t until I first heard from reporters and DC insiders that I realized that this painting was like a Nazi symbol,” Platner said.
“I wouldn’t have lived with this on my chest if I’d known that – and to say I did is disgusting. I’m planning to get rid of this.”
Now, Democrats are more than willing to criticize him for this tattoo.
“I find this painting and his comments about it disturbing,” said Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., told CNN.
“I hope the voters of Maine agree with me. I think it would be a mistake for the Democratic Party to think that Graham Platner’s brand of the Democratic Party is the one that will get us a solid majority across the state.”
And Michael LaRosa, former first lady Jill Biden’s spokesman, praised Auchincloss for having “real courage” to call a better candidate in the race.
When asked if there is a growing problem of opposition to people in his party by CNN, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said “absolutely,” and cited Platner as an example.
“I mean, the guy who’s going to win the Maine primary … has a Nazi tattoo on his chest, and that’s not a problem for a lot of voters,” Fetterman said. “I don’t know why. That’s crazy.
