Maine’s Candidate With a Nazi Tattoo Won in a Landslide

Maine Democrats have made their choice, and it is a choice that many Republicans are viewing with a mixture of disbelief and delight. According to primary results, Graham Platner won the Democratic Senate primary with 71.9 percent of the vote, crushing Gov. Janet Mills, who received just 19.7 percent. The margin was not close. It was a landslide.

For Republicans hoping to defend the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Susan Collins, the result may be the best possible outcome. Democrats had the option of backing a sitting governor with statewide name recognition and years of political experience. Instead, they overwhelmingly nominated a candidate whose campaign has been consumed by controversy from beginning to end.

The result raises a question that many political observers are now asking: What exactly were Democratic primary voters thinking?

A Stunning Victory Despite Constant Scandals

Platner’s victory did not occur in spite of his controversies. It occurred after months of headlines about them.

Poll after poll showed Platner maintaining enormous leads over Mills and other opponents. In late May, a University of New Hampshire poll showed him ahead by an astonishing 66 points. Other surveys consistently showed him dominating the field. By election day, Democratic voters knew about the allegations and controversies. They voted for him anyway.

That fact is what has Republicans shaking their heads. From their perspective, Democrats were presented with a candidate carrying political baggage that would normally end a campaign, yet they embraced him enthusiastically.

The Tattoo Problem

Perhaps the most damaging issue has been Platner’s infamous Totenkopf tattoo.

The skull-and-crossbones symbol is widely associated with Nazi SS units and concentration camp guards during World War II. Platner has maintained that he received the tattoo while drinking during military leave in Croatia in 2007 and did not understand its significance at the time. Eventually, he chose to cover the tattoo with a new design after the controversy exploded.

Even some Democrats were unimpressed by the explanation.

Sen. John Fetterman offered a blunt assessment when he said, “When I was growing up, if someone had a clear Nazi tattoo on them, you probably could conclude that they’re a Nazi sympathizer.”

For Republicans, the idea that Democrats nominated a candidate carrying such a controversy is almost impossible to comprehend.

Allegations Involving Women

The tattoo was only the beginning.

Former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield accused Platner of abusive behavior during their relationship. According to accounts included in reporting, allegations involved incidents in which Platner allegedly grabbed her forcefully, pulled her from a taxi, twisted her arm, pushed her into a bedroom, and held a door shut during an argument.

Fifield later accused the New York Times of softening and minimizing allegations against Platner. She claimed the newspaper excluded accusations from other women, omitted allegations of sexual assault, ignored corroborating witnesses, and produced what she called “a gift to the Platner campaign.”

Whether voters accepted those claims or not, the allegations became a central issue in the race.

Yet Platner’s support barely moved.

The Sexting and Character Questions

Additional controversy emerged when reports surfaced regarding sexually explicit messages Platner allegedly sent to women other than his wife early in their marriage.

His wife, Amy Gertner, publicly defended him, describing the period as a difficult chapter in their relationship and saying their marriage emerged stronger. Platner himself acknowledged the messages existed and admitted, “Amy and I went through something hard because of me.”

Again, the controversy failed to derail his candidacy.

Fetterman was particularly harsh, calling Platner a “creep” while mocking reports involving a messaging account allegedly linked to him.

Questions About Judgment and Mental Health

Another area of scrutiny involved Platner’s Veterans Affairs disability benefits.

Platner has publicly stated that he receives approximately $4,800 per month based on a 100 percent VA disability rating connected to physical injuries, PTSD, and other conditions. He has repeatedly attributed offensive online comments and past behavior to struggles with PTSD and depression after military service.

Critics have argued that these disclosures raise legitimate questions about judgment, temperament, and fitness for high office. Supporters counter that his experiences demonstrate personal growth and resilience.

Regardless of which side voters accepted, the issue became yet another major controversy attached to the campaign.

Insults, Offensive Comments, and Credibility Issues

Platner’s problems did not end there.

Former campaign director Genevieve McDonald publicly warned voters against electing him. Writing shortly before the primary, she declared, “Graham Platner is not someone who would be good for Maine or for the country.”

McDonald accused him of exhibiting “a pattern of dishonest behavior” and described herself as “one of the Platner campaign’s first gaslighting casualties.”

She also highlighted a Reddit post in which Platner reportedly described white rural Americans as “racist” and “stupid.” That comment attracted particular attention because many of those same voters are now people he hopes to represent in the Senate.

McDonald additionally criticized what she called the campaign’s “feigned ignorance” regarding the Nazi-linked tattoo and challenged Platner’s carefully crafted image as a working-class outsider. She noted that financial disclosures showed his oyster farming business listed his mother’s restaurant as its only customer, that he operated on property connected to a business partner’s family, and that his father provided a $200,000 loan for a home purchase.

Why Republicans Are Laughing

The Republican reaction is not difficult to understand.

From their perspective, Democrats were offered a choice between an established governor and a candidate burdened by allegations involving a Nazi-linked tattoo, accusations of abusive behavior toward women, sexting scandals, offensive online comments, questions about disability claims, criticism from former staff members, and repeated concerns about honesty and judgment.

Democratic voters did not merely tolerate those controversies. They rewarded Platner with nearly 72 percent of the vote.

That reality explains why Republicans appear almost gleeful. Many believe they now have months to remind voters about every controversy attached to Platner’s campaign while defending Susan Collins.

Whether that strategy ultimately succeeds remains to be seen. What is already clear is that Maine Democrats have taken a remarkable political gamble. They rejected the safer path represented by Janet Mills and instead nominated one of the most controversial candidates in modern Senate politics.

Republicans can scarcely believe their luck.