A fierce battle is erupting in Maine’s Democratic Senate primary, as Governor Janet Mills launched a starkly critical advertisement targeting her opponent, Graham Platner. The ad seeks to undermine Platner’s rising momentum in the race to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins.
The advertisement centers on two controversial aspects of Platner’s past. It features reactions from women to decade-old comments he made on Reddit regarding sexual assault, and it also draws attention to a tattoo he once had that bore a striking resemblance to a Nazi symbol.
Platner, a Marine and Army veteran who now works as an oyster farmer, has been gaining significant traction. Recent polls indicate he holds a substantial lead over Governor Mills with the primary election just months away. His campaign has resonated with a Democratic base energized by opposition to current national policies.
The ad directly quotes Platner’s past Reddit posts, voiced by an actor, including a 2013 comment suggesting those concerned about rape should avoid becoming intoxicated. The reactions from women shown in the ad are forceful, labeling the comments as “horrible,” “disgusting,” and “disqualifying.”
The advertisement doesn’t shy away from the tattoo controversy either. It concludes with footage of Platner shirtless, accompanied by a narrator’s ominous statement: “The closer you look, the worse it gets.”
Platner has previously addressed the tattoo, explaining he received it in 2007 while stationed with fellow Marines in Croatia. He stated he later covered it up after realizing its unsettling similarity to a Nazi symbol. He also issued a public apology for the offensive Reddit posts after they resurfaced.
Despite the controversy, Platner has drawn large, enthusiastic crowds to his campaign events. He’s tapped into a sense of frustration among Democrats with the current political landscape and a desire for fresh leadership. He is advised by a consultant with a track record of successful progressive campaigns.
Governor Mills, backed by the Democratic establishment and key figures like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, is responding with increasing aggression. Her campaign argues that Platner’s past could jeopardize the party’s best opportunity to unseat Senator Collins, a seat Democrats view as crucial to regaining control of the Senate.
Platner’s campaign manager dismissed the ad as a “desperate attempt for relevance” from a governor trailing in the polls. He argued it exemplifies the negativity that discourages ordinary people from entering politics, and that voters should not define Platner by a past mistake.
The core of the argument from Platner’s team is that Mainers should look beyond a decade-old internet post and recognize the movement he is building. The primary is rapidly becoming a defining moment for Maine’s Democratic party and a crucial test of its strategy for challenging Senator Collins.
