The Maine Democratic primary ended with Graham Platner winning handily, and now big-name Democrats are lining up behind him despite a string of ugly revelations about his past. This piece walks through who backed him, what worries were raised, how party leaders defended the outcome, and how Platner responded to the criticism as he moves toward a fall matchup with Sen. Susan Collins.
Graham Platner captured the Democratic nod with roughly 72 percent of the vote after Gov. Janet Mills suspended her bid, even though her name stayed on the ballot. That kind of margin made his nomination look inevitable, and it prompted a scramble among national Democrats to coalesce around a single candidate who can challenge the incumbent in November. For Republicans watching, the race now feels like both an opportunity and a warning sign about Democratic priorities.
Moderate Democrats were cautious about Platner through much of the primary because of a handful of disturbing episodes from his past. Among the issues that surfaced were a covered-up chest tattoo that resembled a symbol tied to Nazi concentration camp guards, sexually explicit messages he sent while married, and old online posts in which he minimized sexual assault in the military. Those items weren’t whispers; they were front-page concerns that made many voters and elected officials uneasy.
Still, prominent Democrats rallied. Before the primary, progressives such as Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Ruben Gallego, Martin Heinrich, and Rep. Ro Khanna had already signaled support, and after the result Sens. Chuck Schumer and Ed Markey joined the chorus. “In November, Maine voters will elect Graham Platner, and we will win a Senate majority.”
Some of those endorsements came with awkward moments. Markey’s public statements swung between praise and reluctance, and a CNN interview highlighted that tension. “So why not say that you endorse him?” Sanchez asked. Markey responded, “In my opinion, he has taken the issues and he’s galvanized a grassroots movement all across Maine. People are responding at the town meetings, they are up, they’re energized, and in my opinion he is on a pathway to victory in the state of Maine.” After Platner clinched the nomination, Markey on his X account: “We need more leaders in Washington who will stand up to corporate power, fight for working families, and take bold action on the climate crisis. That’s what Graham Platner is fighting for in Maine. And that’s how he will help Democrats take back our Senate majority.”
Other Democratic figures tried to thread a needle: they condemned past behavior while insisting the general election choice mattered more. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said, “I’m disgusted by what [Platner] posted, and I’ve been disgusted by some of his other, you know, behaviors and antics. But here’s the thing: You know, come November, there’s going to be a clear choice,” she said. “There’s going to be Susan Collins on the one hand, who has stood with Trump.” That line of argument asks voters to weigh character scandals against ideological alignment with national Republicans.
Some Democrats stopped short of full-throated endorsement while still signaling they’d back the ticket. Sen. Peter Welch acknowledged the controversy but deferred to Democratic primary voters. “He’s got a lot of controversy around him, but that’s been out there. The Democratic voters in Maine were fully aware of it, and they gave him a very solid Democratic victory in the primary,” Welch said. Others, like Sen. Brian Schatz, reportedly are helping with fundraising even if they’re not making dramatic public statements.
Sen. Tina Smith echoed the party’s move to close ranks, on X early Wednesday morning: “Graham Platner made a passionate case for loving and serving Maine. Powerful.” Platner himself addressed the crowd in his victory remarks and acknowledged mistakes, saying, “I’ve made mistakes in my life, mistakes that I regret, that I live with and that I continue to learn from. And I’m still far from perfect,” Platner said in his victory speech Tuesday night.
https://x.com/EdMarkey/status/2064526878426165486
1 Comment
It’s incredibly stupid that the Communist Democrats have called President Trump Hitler and all MAGA supporters Nazi’s while the Communist Democrat Party has been supportive of a full blown Communist Nazi and the most stupidest people on the planet go out and vote Platner right into the Primaries.
When one of those Communist Democrat voters call me a Nazi, I’ll shoot anyone of them.
I’ve had it with every single Communist Democrat calling me and millions who support President Trump, every name in the book and call MAGA the ones causing violence and murder while they are the ones committing felonies, violence, rape, murder against us.!