Graham Platner (born 1984) is a military veteran and oyster farmer running for the U.S. Senate from the state of Maine.Image: keystone
analysis
The Democrats are playing an all-or-nothing game in the state of Maine.
June 5, 2026, 2:13 p.mJune 5, 2026, 3:45 p.m
Politically speaking, the east coast state of Maine is fundamentally left-wing liberal. Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and even Kamala Harris were able to defeat Donald Trump there. Nevertheless, Susan Collins, one of the two representatives in the Senate, is a Republican, one with liberal leanings, but also one who, when things get tight, always votes with the majority of the Grand Old Party and throws her liberal ideals to the wind.
Senators must be re-elected every six years, and a third of them every two years. Susan Collins must retain her seat next November. She’s in a tough spot, not just because of her opportunistic behavior, but also because the middle class in Maine is also suffering from the affordability crisis and giving the president bad marks. The Democrats are therefore sensing the dawn and believe that this time they will be able to defeat Collins and, in the best case scenario, achieve a majority in the Senate again.
Her seat is: Senator Susan Collins.Image: keystone
With Graham Platner they hope to have the ideal candidate for this – or at least they have hoped so far. But first things first:
Platner is a political whiz kid. The former Marine and current oyster farmer is a progressive, but also someone who is well received by the common people and whose great political talent is undisputed. With his message in the spirit of Bernie Sanders – more wages for workers and the middle class, affordable health insurance and daycare centers – he goes from town hall to town hall and has now gathered such a broad movement behind him that Janet Mills, the governor of Maine, who actually also wanted to run, threw in the towel months ago.
In the polls, Platner is also very clearly ahead of Collins, or has been so far. Because in the last few weeks the whiz kid has encountered very strong headwinds.
As mentioned, Platner is a former Marine who served multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also did stupid things, for example he had a skull tattooed on his chest during his vacation in Croatia, not knowing that this was also a symbol of the SS.
Covered: the skull tattoo on Platner’s chest.Image: keystone
Like many veterans, he fell into a psychological depression after his discharge from the military. During this phase, he often made politically incorrect posts on Reddit. Because he also worked as a bartender for a short time, he also insulted the blacks for only giving measly tips.
As Platner’s political star rose, these sins became public. Platner didn’t try for a moment to cover it up. He stood by it and explained that he was going through a difficult psychological phase at the time. He did this so convincingly that he was believed. And as far as the skull tattoo is concerned, he was not aware of its connection to the SS.
Nevertheless, new trouble threatens him. First, a former campaign worker whispered to the Wall Street Journal that Platner sent sexually suggestive mail to at least six other women even after he married. Amy Gertner, Platner’s wife, then published a touching video in which she forgave her husband and also described how they would overcome the problem together.
A little later, the New York Times doubled down. She cited three of Platner’s former girlfriends who said he behaved in sexually toxic ways toward them. In particular, a certain Lyndsey Fifield, who was with Platner between 2013 and 2015, made serious allegations. Although he never hit her, he once pushed her against a wall and locked her in a room.
What you need to know is that the woman in question is a conservative activist who, among other things, worked for the Heritage Foundation and campaigned for Nikki Haley. In addition, other former friends of Platner have said exactly the opposite and described him as a “great friend”.
Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate in Texas.Image: keystone
For Republicans, these accusations are a godsend. With Ken Paxton, who is running for a Senate seat in Texas, they have a candidate who is in the middle of a very ugly divorce and is accused of multiple affairs. And Trump’s comments about grabbing women’s crotch because he was allowed to do that as a star have not yet been forgotten either. With the accusations directed at Platner, they now hope to be able to retaliate in kind.
AIPAC, the Jewish lobbying organization in the USA, is also likely to be pleased with the allegations. Platner is a vehement critic of Israel’s actions against Gaza and Lebanon. Bringing him close to Nazis is therefore very convenient for her.
However, the supposed sympathies for Hitler’s henchmen are nonsense. Platner credibly asserted that he had the skull tattoo done without the knowledge of the SS. He has now covered it up. He also has a remarkable track record in the fight against fascism.
In the New York Times, Michelle Goldberg states unequivocally: “To suggest that Platner has secret sympathies for the Nazis is a misjudgment, not only of himself, but also of all his voters, many of whom like him because they appreciate that he is someone who fights against fascism.”
Pray for Platner: Bernie Sanders.Image: keystone
Graham Platner was not initially the preferred candidate of the Democratic establishment. This has now changed. Not only Bernie Sanders, but also Elizabeth Warren, Ruben Gallego, and even Chuck Schumer are now united behind him, even if they probably send a daily prayer to heaven asking God to spare them from further revelations.
Platner himself said in an interview with MS Now that he never thought about resigning for a moment, probably knowing Nietzsche’s famous aphorism: “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”