UMVA has learned that a pair of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) activists, Daniel Moraff and Leanne Fan, played a crucial role in recruiting Graham Platner to run for Senate, contradicting initial claims that he was inspired to run on his own.
Moraff and Fan, a young couple with Ivy League educations, met while working on the Bernie Sanders campaign in 2020. They embarked on a mission to find a candidate in Maine who fit a specific profile: a blue-collar, manly-man type. Platner, a local resident, was their top pick, but he was initially hesitant to run.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Moraff and Fan took a proactive approach to vetting Platner, meeting with his mother at her fine dining restaurant and conducting a thorough assessment of his suitability as a candidate. They deemed him "exceptional" and, after consulting with another left-wing operative, Platner launched his Senate bid.
However, questions have been raised about the thoroughness of Platner's vetting process. Moraff and Fan have revealed that they hired a research firm to investigate Platner's background, but it appears that the firm did not uncover all of his controversies, including a tattoo and Reddit posts that sparked widespread criticism.
Moraff's unique voice and manner of speech have garnered attention, and his comments on the vetting process have raised eyebrows. The duo's efforts to recruit Platner have sparked concerns about the influence of the DSA within the Democratic Party and their intentions to shape the party's future.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Moraff and Fan are not newcomers to candidate recruitment. They have been involved in similar efforts in other parts of the country, fueling speculation about the DSA's long-term strategy to gain control of the Democratic Party.
