Maine oyster farmer Graham Platner’s Senate campaign is in crisis after reports of offensive online messages over many years.
Platner won the adulation of other Democratic senators, raised more than $3 million in the first six weeks of his campaign, and attracted large crowds at his events.
CNN first reported Thursday on comments from “around 2021” where Platner called “all” cops bastards and described himself as a communist on Reddit.
“Graham Platner represents not the entire solution, but a vital step in the right direction,” said David Hogg, co-founder of Leaders We Deserve, on Tuesday.
She said, “I don’t know much of anything about Graham Platner.”
Following years of offensive online messages, Graham Platner, an oyster farmer from Maine, is facing a crisis in his Senate campaign.
The reason it matters: After the party’s humiliating 2024 defeats, many national Democrats looked to Platner as a way to address their issues with young men and working-class vote.
Sen. Sanders, Bernie (I-Vt. made Platner’s campaign the centerpiece of his effort to restructure the Democratic Party as an economically and politically progressive organization.
Platner raised over $3 million in the first six weeks of his campaign, garnered the admiration of other Democratic senators, and drew sizable crowds to his events.
Platner, a 41-year-old veteran of the military who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been making headlines for years for his offensive remarks on Reddit about Black diners, white people in rural areas, police officers, and victims of sexual assault.
CNN initially covered remarks made by Platner on Reddit “around 2021” in which he referred to “all” police officers as jerks and labeled himself a communist. Additionally, Platner claimed that white people in rural areas were “actually” racist and dimwitted.
In subsequent media reports, he detailed posts from 2013, asking, “Why don’t Black people tip?” and stating that people should “take some responsibility for themselves and not get so f–ked up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to?” in a thread on underwear designed to prevent sexual assaults.
He stated in another 2018 post that people should read up on history if they “expect to fight fascism without a good semi-automatic rifle.”. “,”.
In the aftermath, Platner’s political director, former state Rep. The Bangor Daily News of Maine was the first to report that Genevieve McDonald had resigned from the campaign.
In a five-minute direct-to-camera video posted on the social media platform X on Friday, Platner portrayed his previous posts as the result of a young man who had returned home from his overseas service in a state of profound distress.
“I experienced depression, PTSD, and all the other negative effects of serving in two wars that I eventually stopped believing in,” he said. “I felt really disoriented after that. I felt incredibly alone, alienated, and disillusioned after it. Additionally, I believe that, like many others, I posted something foolish online. “.
In 2020 and 2021, Platner claimed that after relocating to his hometown, getting married, and starting “to feel connected again,” things took a different turn. “.”.
“I am deeply sorry to those of you who have read these things and been offended, or who have read these things and seen someone you don’t recognize,” he said.
Between the lines: Platner’s supporters are starting to go around in circles.
“This is so incredibly straightforward, vulnerable, and human. Former Barack Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau responded to Platner’s video on X, saying, “We could use more of this in politics.”.
Zoom in: Last week, Sanders shocked everyone by publicly discouraging Maine Gov. Janet Mills from running, despite the fact that she is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N) favorite. Yep. ) and a large portion of the Democratic leadership.
In any event, Mills placed her bid on Tuesday.
A number of youth organizations supported Platner that same day.
David Hogg, a co-founder of Leaders We Deserve, stated on Tuesday that “Graham Platner represents not the entire solution, but a vital step in the right direction.”. In order to reach young and working-class voters, Hogg mentioned discussions taking place within the party.
A request for comment on Friday was not answered by a Sanders representative. Platner’s team refused to allow him to participate in an Axios interview.
In summary, Mills supporters claim that Platner is a political novice who lacks the experience and due diligence to challenge Sen, and this is supported by the revelations that have been leaking about him. Maine Republican Susan Collins.
When questioned about Platner on a podcast this week, Mills claimed that Collins defeated Democrats in previous contests “because we ran people who are untested” and that “I’m the only one in the race who’s actually won an election.”. “..”.
“I don’t know much about Graham Platner,” she said. “.
