Maine Senate Candidate Platner Addresses Nazi Tattoo, Past Comments Amidst Campaign Challenges
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner faces scrutiny over a Nazi-like tattoo and offensive past comments, attributing them to mental health struggles, while retaining key endorsements.
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Overview
- Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, a Marine veteran, faces scrutiny over a Nazi-like tattoo from his 2007 deployment and controversial past online comments.
- Platner has issued multiple apology videos, attributing his offensive remarks and the tattoo to mental health struggles like PTSD and depression following his military service.
- Responding to public backlash, Platner covered the controversial tattoo with a new one, vehemently denying any Nazi or antisemitic sympathies despite the symbol's nature.
- Despite the controversy, Platner, a left populist, retains significant progressive support, including endorsements from Bernie Sanders, Ro Khanna, and three major labor unions.
- The ongoing scrutiny led to his political director's resignation, and experts warn the controversy could still harm his campaign against Senator Susan Collins.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by consistently highlighting Graham Platner's "tumultuous" campaign, leading with his controversies regarding old Reddit posts and a tattoo. They emphasize the challenges to his candidacy through evaluative language and by drawing editorial comparisons to other controversial political figures, even while including his explanations and supporters' defenses.
"But he's had it for 18 years, and apparently seemed aware of the Nazi connection."
Reason"Platner said he was not ashamed to confront his past comments and actions because it reflects the lessons he needed to take to get where he is today."
Fortune"Despite facing multiple controversies, Graham Platner remains committed to his U.S. Senate campaign and accuses his opponents of trying to destroy his life."
ABC News"Platner has largely accused his opponents of being behind the leaks of his past online comments and raising questions about his tattoo."
Associated Press"Platner has also said that many of the Reddit posts were made during a time when he was living with “undiagnosed PTSD“ from his military service, a condition that he says he has since gotten treatment for."
NBC News"The latest controversy surrounding the Marine and U.S. Army veteran and oyster farmer raises questions about his past and the implications of his actions."
USA TODAY"Platner has resisted calls to drop out of the race."
ABC News"Platner said he was not ashamed to confront his past comments and actions because it reflects the lessons he needed to take to get where he is today."
Associated Press"Platner is the latest in a line of Democratic candidates to shrug off dark revelations about their past, reflecting a new era in politics and an example set by President Donald Trump, who has forged ahead undaunted by controversies that would have been campaign-ending discoveries only a decade ago."
Associated PressArticles (32)
Center (9)
FAQ
Graham Platner has a Nazi-like tattoo dating from his 2007 deployment, which he has covered with a new tattoo in response to public backlash. He denies any Nazi or antisemitic sympathies, attributing the tattoo and past offensive comments to mental health struggles including PTSD and depression after his military service.
The controversies have drawn significant scrutiny and led to the resignation of his political director. Experts warn these issues could harm his campaign against Senator Susan Collins despite his efforts to apologize and explain the circumstances behind his past behavior.
Despite the controversy, Platner retains significant progressive support, including endorsements from prominent figures such as Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna, as well as from three major labor unions.
Graham Platner leads Maine Governor Janet Mills significantly in the Democratic primary for the 2026 U.S. Senate race, especially among self-described socialists, progressives, and young voters.
The scrutiny surrounding Platner's tattoo and past comments led to the resignation of his political director, indicating internal challenges within his campaign team.
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