Just when it seemed like Democrats had unearthed the ideal candidate—someone who aligns with conservative values and can capture votes in a predominantly rural state—his less-than-stellar background keeps surfacing, complicating what should be a straightforward left-leaning campaign.
Graham Platner, a progressive vying for Republican Senator Susan Collins’ seat in Maine, currently leads his Democratic primary opponent, Governor Janet Mills, by a significant margin. A poll from early April revealed he has a stunning 33-point advantage over Mills, and other surveys echo this trend of him pulling ahead by wide margins.
A former Marine and oyster farmer, Platner is advocating for an anti-establishment, anti-billionaire platform. His agenda includes breaking up monopolies, overhauling the healthcare system, halting aid and arms to Israel, and implementing a “cost-of-living” tax cut funded by increased taxes on billionaires.
However, despite his populist credentials, Platner has faced scrutiny due to resurfaced past comments throughout his campaign.
Most recently, he had to apologize after using the word “retarded” during an interview with The Maine Monitor.
“I am sorry. I’m sorry that I said it. I am striving to improve every day. I’m not a perfect person, and I’m trying to do better,” Platner stated. “My politics are built on inclusivity and showing up for everyone, and I will work to reflect that in our policies and campaign.”
In that interview, he was quoted saying the slur while discussing a separate issue regarding a tattoo he had, which resembled a skull-and-crossbones emblem associated with Nazi “Death’s Head” units.
Platner noted on social media, “Years ago, I got a skull and crossbones tattoo with my buddies in the Marine Corps. I was horrified to find out it closely resembled a Nazi symbol. I altered it to something that aligns better with my core beliefs.”
However, he also expressed frustration about comments surrounding the tattoo. “I was like, ‘Well, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.’ And then it resurfaced, and I thought, ‘God damn it.’”
In October 2025, following Mills’ entry into the race, a batch of previously deleted Reddit posts emerged. Under the pseudonym “P-Hustle,” Platner had openly identified as a “communist,” referred to all police officers as “bastards,” and made disparaging comments about rural white Americans, labeling them as ignorant. In another post from 2013, he even questioned, “Why don’t Black people tip?”
“I bartend, and it’s surprising how consistent this stereotype is. Sometimes a Black patron will leave a decent tip, but usually it’s almost nothing. I wonder why that is,” he wrote.
He has drawn fire for various remarks on social media about LGBTQ+ individuals, including a comment where he suggested that critics of some military actions must not be real combat veterans. He also controversially suggested that sexual assault victims should “take responsibility for themselves” and supported a fellow Marine who urinated on a deceased Taliban fighter.
Despite this, Platner has received backing from some in the anti-establishment left, including Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont.
“He went through a dark phase, like many people in America. He has apologized for the hurtful things he said, and I believe he is capable of running a strong campaign and winning,” Sanders commented regarding Platner’s tattoo in October 2025.
