Top Democratic officials are increasingly distancing themselves from Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner as a steady stream of controversies continues to shadow his campaign, deepening concerns within the party about its chances of unseating Republican Sen. Susan Collins in 2026.
What was once viewed as one of Democrats’ most promising pickup opportunities has instead become a source of internal conflict. Since Maine Gov. Janet Mills declined to enter the race, Platner has emerged as the party’s standard-bearer, but his rise has exposed a growing divide between the Democratic Party’s moderate and progressive wings.
Former Cuomo chief of staff Melissa DeRosa argued that the Maine race has become a visible example of broader tensions inside the party.
“The Maine race really demonstrates the civil war that’s happening within the Democratic Party,” DeRosa said during an appearance on Fox News. “There are a lot of Democrats, moderate Democrats like myself, who will not cry tears should we lose Maine.”
That is a remarkable statement considering how important the seat is to Democratic hopes of reclaiming control of the Senate. Collins remains one of the GOP’s most durable incumbents, and Maine has long been viewed as a realistic target for Democrats. Yet many party insiders appear increasingly concerned that Platner’s controversies are making that task significantly harder.
The candidate’s troubles have arrived in waves. Last year, a video of Platner dancing shirtless drew attention to a chest tattoo resembling the Nazi-associated totenkopf, or “death’s head,” symbol. Platner insisted he was unaware of the symbol’s historical associations and said he planned to have the tattoo removed after learning about its significance.
The explanation has done little to quiet critics.
Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., publicly broke with many in his party by calling the issue disqualifying.
“I find that tattoo and his commentary about it to be personally disqualifying,” Auchincloss told CNN. “I hope Maine voters agree with me.”
Former Jill Biden spokesman Michael LaRosa praised Auchincloss for speaking out, suggesting many Democrats have been reluctant to publicly criticize the candidate.
The tattoo controversy is only one part of the problem. Recently uncovered Reddit posts attributed to Platner have generated additional scrutiny. The posts reportedly included inflammatory comments on a range of subjects, creating fresh ammunition for both Republicans and Democrats questioning his viability as a statewide candidate.
National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Bernadette Breslin argued that Democrats are beginning to recognize the political liability.
“Democrats’ shift from quietly distancing themselves from Platner to openly disavowing him proves his baggage is catching up with him,” Breslin said.
Even prominent Democrats have appeared hesitant to offer enthusiastic support. When questioned by reporters, figures including Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren declined to provide strong endorsements of Platner amid the growing controversy.
Perhaps the most striking criticism came from Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. During a CNN interview addressing concerns about antisemitism within the Democratic Party, Fetterman pointed directly to the Maine candidate.
“The guy that’s going to win the primary in Maine has a Nazi tattoo on his chest,” Fetterman said. “So I don’t know why. That’s crazy.”
