How Maine Dems feel about scandal-ridden Platner leaves no room for interpretation

Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at a town hall at the Leavitt Theater on Oct.22, 2025, in Ogunquit, Maine.(Sophie Park/Getty Images)

DEMOCRATS BREAK WITH SCANDAL-PLAGUED GRAHAM PLATNER, WARN OF ‘CIVIL WAR’ IN PARTY

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But the candidates have been largely silent on Platner’sinflammatory social media postsand controversy over his covered-up tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol — issues that have fueled backlash from some elected Democrats.

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Their alignment with Platner could complicate Democrats’ already difficult path to holding the swing seat vacated by Golden, who won re-election in 2024 by fewer than 3,000 votes, despite the district’s Republican tilt.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the open House race “Likely Republican,” citing the rural district’s red hue and Golden’s decision not to seek re-election.

Dunlap, who is seeking to occupy the contest’s progressive lane, is scheduled to appear with Platner at a get-out-the-vote rally next week.The event is being headlined by left-wing populist Rep.Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who has endorsed both Dunlap and Platner.

“With Graham Platner now the clear choice, I am prepared to rally behind his candidacy,” Dunlap wrote on social media.“He will be a phenomenal United States senator.”

Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap has cozied up to Graham Platner as he vies for a battleground House seat vacated by Rep.Jared Golden, who is retiring.(Matt Dunlap for Congress)

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“He is the kind of leader Maine has been waiting for, as demonstrated by the strong support he has generated,” he continued.

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The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), House Republicans’ campaign arm, is seeking to exploit the candidates’ ties to Platner in one of the reddest districts held by a Democrat in the country.

“By continuing to embrace Graham Platner, Matt Dunlap and Joe Baldacci have shown a stunning lack of judgment that Mainers will not overlook,” NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O�

Their support for Platner stands in stark contrast to centrist Democrats, such as Sen.John Fetterman,D-Pa., and Rep.Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., who have sharply rebuked Platner’s campaign.

Auchincloss, a Jewish Democrat, has argued that Platner’sNazi-linked tattoo and his remarksdefending it are “personally disqualifying.”

Meanwhile, senior Democrats in Washington have largelydeclined to commenton Platner’s slate of controversies or distance themselves from the Senate hopeful.

Rep.Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., called Senate candidate Graham Platner’s Nazi-linked tattoo “personally disqualifying” during an interview with CNN.(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc.via Getty Images;WGME via AP)

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Melissa DeRosa, former New York Gov.Andrew Cuomo’ Bret Baier earlier this week that disagreement over Platner’s candidacy among Democrats is indicative of a burgeoning rift within the party.

“The Maine race really demonstrates the civil war that’s happening within the Democratic Party, and there are a lot of Democrats, moderate Democrats like myself, who will not cry tears should we lose Maine,” DeRosa said.“I mean, that would be a pickup to begin with.”