Graham Platner made history on Tuesday, becoming the first vanity oysterman and Nazi-tattooed Hotchkiss attendee to win a major party's nomination for U.S. Senate while facing credible allegations of domestic abuse. Barring another unforeseen setback or two, Platner will square off against longtime Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) in the general election.
Viewed as the prohibitive favorite since his chief rival, Gov. Janet Mills (D., Maine), suspended her campaign in April, Platner was on track to receive a majority of the Democratic primary vote. The Associated Press called the race for Platner with 8 percent of the vote reported.
Platner's victory is sure to embolden his supporters, who have come to revere him as the embodiment of working-class authenticity. The grandson of a world-renowned architect, Platner derives most of his income from a military disability pension, lives in a house his dad paid for, and runs an oyster farm—on an island owned by his rich friend—whose principle client is his mom's restaurant at an "old world luxury" hotel. He attended and was ultimately expelled from the Hotchkiss School, an elite preparatory academy whose distinguished alumni include Supreme Court justice Potter Stewart and Morgan Stanley cofounder Harold Stanley.
At the same time, Platner's recent underwhelming polling numbers will do little to assuage concerns about his viability in a matchup with Collins, a wily moderate Democrats have spent the last three decades trying to defeat.
"That is the part that people do not understand," said Genevieve McDonald, a former Platner aide who resigned in October amid reports on the candidate's since-deleted Reddit posts attacking rape victims. "We have a general election. That is a very different demographic."
Days before the primary election, McDonald wrote a Washington Post op-ed arguing that Platner "shouldn't be a U.S. senator," citing his numerous scandals and the likelihood that damaging revelations would continue to plague his candidacy. "I want better for my daughters, and for the people of Maine," she wrote. "The answer to a broken political culture is not to accept it."
Politico spoke with several Maine voters this week who felt similarly. "I just think there’s a number of people that after everything that’s come out on Platner just can’t bring themselves to vote for Platner," said Kathy Bonk of Brooksville.
In addition to the controversial Reddit posts—in which Platner, a.k.a. "P-Hustle," also made disparaging comments about black people, rural whites, police officers, and combat veterans—the candidate has come under fire for having a Totenkopf, or "death's head," symbol tattooed on his chest for almost two decades. Platner has repeatedly—and dubiously—claimed to have only recently become aware of the Totenkopf's links to the Nazi SS units that orchestrated the Holocaust.
Last month, reports emerged that Platner exchanged explicit texts with several women after marrying his wife in 2023. He used a hookup app described as a "paradise" for child predators, and his profile included a shirtless mirror selfie that strategically obscured the Nazi tattoo. Last week the New York Times spoke to a number of ex-girlfriends who described abusive behavior by Platner.
Nevertheless, Platner's support among Democratic politicians has persisted. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) were early backers. Sen. Brian Schatz (D., Hawaii) hosted a virtual fundraiser over the weekend, and Sen. Tina Smith (D., Minn.) praised Platner for connecting with voters and understanding "what they really care about." Smith has served since 2018 after being appointed to replace former senator Al Franken, who resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Democrats backing Platner, a group that includes Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), have sought to portray the candidate as remorseful for his past behavior. Rep. Ro Khanna (D., Calif.), a prospective presidential candidate in 2028, joined Platner at a rally in Maine and argued that supporting a flawed candidate and forgiving his indiscretions is necessary for America "to redeem itself."
But neither Platner nor his campaign have expressed remorse in response to the abuse allegations from former girlfriends. "I think he should apologize," Khanna told Politico. Platner's campaign declined. They have repeatedly dismissed one of his accusers as a political operative working on Collins's behalf.
The campaign has also lashed out at McDonald for leaking "gossip" to the press about his extramarital sexting that Platner claimed was "not true" even though his campaign had already confirmed that it was. McDonald said she has spoken to multiple women who have "their own disturbing stories" about Platner.
Platner told MS NOW he has "not once" considered dropping out of the race, and there is very little his critics can do about it now that he has secured the nomination. Some anxious Democrats have suggested that Platner could be pressured to take his name off the ballot before the July 13 deadline, which would allow the state party to nominate a replacement candidate.
In other words, some Democrats are being delusional. They're stuck with Platner now.
Good luck!
