Controversial Platner pulls off political upset in Maine

Overcoming a series of scandals that experts feared would sink his campaign, former oysterman Graham Platner defeated Gov. Janet Mills in the Maine Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday.

Platner entered the election with high hopes, as supporters embraced his economic populist message. Yet despite receiving high profile endorsements, including from the democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Platner’s campaign was bogged down by a series of scandals. First it came out that he had a Nazi tattoo on his chest, which he claims he chose without realizing its fascist origins. Then it was revealed that he had made racist, homophobic and sexist comments on Reddit boards, including claiming Black people are bad tippers and that victims of sexual violence needed to take accountability. Next it was revealed that he had shared intimate tests with multiple women while married, with a former campaign adviser accusing him of misleading people about this and other aspects of his past.

Despite these potential political liabilities, Platner convinced enough Democratic primary voters that he could defeat the incumbent Republican to prevail in the primary. He will now face off in the general election against Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) — with one caveat. If more scandals come out against Platner, Democrats can try to convince him to withdraw and pick a replacement candidate at a convention in July.

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