Maine Democrat had a Nazi tattoo and denigrated white rural Americans, police officers, black people, and gay men
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner’s campaign manager resigned after just three days on the job, citing his wife’s pregnancy and his desire to “lean into this new experience as a family.”
Platner hired “longtime friend” Kevin Brown as campaign manager just last Tuesday, around the same time that reports broke that Platner had a tattoo of a Nazi “Totenkopf” on his chest, Politico reported at the time. Brown is now stepping down from the position, Axios reported Monday.
Brown told Axios that he was leaving for family reasons. Graham is a dear friend,” he said. “I started this campaign Tuesday but found out Friday we have a baby on the way. Graham deserves someone who is 100% in on his race and we want to lean into this new experience as a family, so it was best we step back sooner than later so Graham can get the manager he deserves.”
Platner’s campaign been mired in nonstop controversy since reports broke about his Reddit posts, in which he said that “all” cops are bastards, called white rural Americans racist and stupid, called himself a communist, asked why black people “don’t tip,” and advised people concerned about sexual assault to “take some responsibility for themselves and not get so fucked up.”
Former Platner political director Genevieve McDonald resigned earlier this month following the first wave of reports on the social media posts. She has since told Politico that the campaign offered her a $15,000 nondisclosure agreement, which she refused.
Since McDonald’s resignation, the Advocate reported that Platner made Reddit comments containing “homophobic slurs, anti-LGBTQ+ jokes, and sexually explicit stories denigrating gay men,” and Platner confirmed that he had the Totenkopf tattoo, though he suggested he was unaware of the Nazi symbolism. Former associates of his have denied that claim, with McDonald calling him a history buff who “knows damn well” what the tattoo means and another saying he referred to the ink as “my Totenkopf.”
Platner has since gotten a different tattoo to cover up the Nazi skull.
Even as the scandals mount, polls have shown Platner within striking distance his nearest primary rival, Maine governor Janet Mills, with one survey last week giving Mills a 5-point lead. A different poll released Wednesday found Platner with a staggering 34-point lead, though it was taken before news broke of the Nazi tattoo. Whichever Democrat wins the primary will likely face off against longtime Republican senator Susan Collins.
