Graham Platner, a contender for the Maine Senate seat, has once again captured attention, not only for his controversial tattoo with Nazi associations but also for receiving a significant endorsement this past Monday. As the race heats up, Democrats find themselves divided on which candidate to support.
Platner’s candidacy received a boost from Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, who is gaining recognition as a potential prominent figure for the 2028 elections. Gallego becomes the third senator to endorse Platner, highlighting the oyster farmer’s genuine character and autonomy, in stark contrast to the stance of Democratic leadership.
In his endorsement statement, Gallego expressed, “Graham Platner is a rare kind of fighter for Maine, one who speaks his mind, remains free from special interest influences, and is consistently committed to the needs of working families.”
Both Gallego and Platner have sought the expertise of Democratic consultant Rebecca Katz to guide their respective Senate campaigns, indicating strategic alignment in their approaches.
Platner, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has also garnered support from Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, further aligning him with progressive ideology.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other prominent Democrats have rallied behind Maine Governor Janet Mills, aiming to unseat the incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. This endorsement illustrates the internal Democratic split as they navigate this pivotal election.
Platner, a Marine veteran, has faced a string of controversies related to antisemitism.
First was the revelation that he had a Nazi-linked tattoo on his chest, which he claimed to have had inked while on leave in Croatia roughly two decades ago, while inebriated.
The tattoo looked like a Totenkopf or “death’s head” symbol used by the notorious Nazi SS secret police force. Platner has since inked a tattoo over it with what he described as a “Celtic knot with some imagery around dogs.”
Platner has been adamant that he’s “not a secret Nazi.”
Last week, he was in hot water again after reposting an X by Stew Peters, an alt-right figure who has engaged in Holocaust denialism and espoused antisemitic conspiracy theories.
The post from Peters that Platner reposed came during the State of the Union and pointed out that President Trump’s line about Iran drew bipartisan applause. Platner’s team later said the repost was deleted after learning it was boosting a “despicable account.”
More recently, Platner faced controversy for doing an interview with retired Green Beret Nate Cornacchia, who has infamously spewed conspiracy theories that Israel played a role in the assassination of conservative icon Charlie Kirk and John F. Kennedy.
The Post contacted Platner’s campaign for comment.
The Maine Senate race is widely seen as one of the Democrats’ top potential Senate pickup opportunities in the 2026 midterms.
Schumer (D-NY) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) are backing Mills, whom they view as the safer bet to take on incumbent Collins (R-Maine).
Platner is currently leading the Maine Senate primary for Democrats by 10 percentage points, according to the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate of polling, though there are only three polls of the race listed.
Polling in Maine famously underestimated Collins’ support in 2020, with the RCP aggregate at the time being off by double digits.
The Maine primary is set to take place on June 9.
