Graham Platner, a Maine Senate hopeful, finds himself in a political firestorm, scrambling to rebuild his campaign as old social media posts and a regrettable tattoo threaten to derail his challenge against Sen. Susan Collins, as Politico reports.
Platner’s bid in the Democratic Party primary has hit turbulence with revelations of past Reddit posts containing offensive language and a Nazi symbol tattoo from two decades ago, prompting a major overhaul with new hires and tightened internal controls.
The controversy erupted when old online content surfaced, including homophobic slurs and derogatory remarks about gay men, as Platner himself confirmed in a recent interview with The Advocate, expressing regret for his past words.
Adding to the mess, a 2013 post downplayed sexual assault in the military, while a deleted 2018 comment hinted at violence as a tool for social change -- hardly the resume of a unifying figure.
In response, Platner has brought in heavy hitters, naming Kevin Brown as the new campaign manager, a veteran of national campaigns for progressive icons, though lacking Maine-specific experience.
The campaign also tapped Spruce Street Consulting, a firm linked to progressive causes, and added an in-house attorney to navigate the growing legal and public relations quagmire.
Last week, amid the fallout, the campaign started issuing non-disclosure agreements to staffers, a move that reeks of damage control rather than transparency.
Genevieve McDonald, Platner’s former top political director, resigned in protest over the candidate’s past posts, refusing a $15,000 offer to sign an NDA and stay silent.
“The campaign offered me $15,000 to sign a NDA,” McDonald told Politico, a sum she declined despite the financial temptation after leaving her job to join what she thought was a principled cause.
“I did not accept the offer. I certainly could have used the money,” McDonald continued, highlighting a deeper disillusionment with Platner’s values and the campaign’s direction.
The NDA, electronically sent by Victoria Perrone of Spruce Street Consulting, was later voided after McDonald’s resignation and following media inquiries, suggesting a hasty retreat under scrutiny.
Before Brown’s arrival, consultant Daniel Moraff had been steering the ship, but the shift to new leadership signals Platner’s desperation to stabilize a campaign veering off course.
Despite the scandals, a recent University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll shows Platner ahead of Gov. Janet Mills in a Democratic Party primary matchup, capturing 58% to Mills’ 24% among first-choice voters in Maine’s ranked-choice system.
The survey, conducted after the social media revelations but before the tattoo news broke, indicates Platner’s favorability holds strong, especially among younger Democratic Party voters -- a curious twist for a candidate under such fire.
Yet, one wonders if this lead will endure as more baggage comes to light, or if Platner’s apologies for a tattoo from 20 years ago and crude online rants will satisfy a party increasingly obsessed with ideological purity. His past may clash with the progressive agenda, but his current numbers suggest some voters are willing to overlook the noise -- or perhaps crave an outsider’s edge. For conservatives watching, it’s a reminder that even flawed candidates can challenge the establishment if the frustration with status quo politics runs deep enough.
