The Scandals Keep Coming
Graham Platner's path to the primary has been one of remarkable resilience in the face of mounting allegations. The controversies began last October and haven't stopped accumulating:
- The Nazi Tattoo: Platner has a tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol. When confronted, his explanation was that he got it as a marine and "you don't know everything you tattoo on yourself at the time," but that doesn't make it less problematic.
- Sexual Misconduct: Multiple reports of sexual text messages sent while married to women who weren't his wife.
- Abuse Allegations: Former girlfriends have made serious accusations of physical mistreatment.
- Dishonesty: His own campaign staff turned against him. Genevieve McDonald, his former political director, published a Washington Post opinion piece five days before the election describing Platner as "not someone who would be good for Maine or for the country" and detailing "a pattern of dishonest behavior."
Throughout all of this, Platner assured voters there were no more "skeletons in the closet." More emerged anyway.
How He Won Anyway
The answer is simple: his main opponent, former Maine Governor Janet Mills, suspended her campaign. Platner won because Democrats essentially had no choice. One voter, Jackie Farrell, an 81-year-old retiree, cut to the heart of it: "That he's a Nazi – hello? And the girlfriends."
Yet other voters justified their support with reasoning that exists in a dimension of logic beyond normal comprehension. As one voter put it: "For me it's like everyone has shit that they've done. It's human. No one's perfect... It's not my job to judge someone on what they've done."
When the standard for viability is that the other candidate quit, that's what qualifies as a primary victory in 2026.
The General Election
Platner will now face Susan Collins, the Republican incumbent, in what was supposed to be a competitive race to determine Senate control. But voters who were on the fence about a candidate with only normal scandals may have different feelings about one decorated with Nazi tattoos and abuse allegations.
The Guardian quoted Tim Fullerton, a Democratic strategist: "The best way to make sure that a Mainer does the opposite of what you want is for somebody from outside of the state to tell them to do something." Platner is counting on that stubbornness. It might not be enough to overcome the tattoo.
Sources
POLITICO: Graham Platner wins Maine Democratic Senate primary to face Susan Collins
The Guardian: Maine voters weigh Graham Platner scandals on election day: 'It's not my job to judge'
Washington Post Opinion: Graham Platner's Maine Senate bid sends a dubious message