# Are there any reasons to reject Graham Platner in Maine (campaign suspended July 8, 2026) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 4, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179 "2026-03-04T03:50:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 56
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1103 "2026-06-10T01:10:27Z")
Only a few thousand votes are in so far, but Platner is currently sitting at 73%. I expect it’s going to stay in that range. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1104 "2026-06-10T01:12:32Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Polls closing so a little bit to see. I’ll be particularly interested in the exit poll cross tabs if they do them for this sort of race. > **[Maine Senate Primary Election 2026 Live Results](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/maine-senate-results)** > > See live results from the 2026 Maine Senate primary election as Republican and Democrat votes are counted by candidate and township. NBC says “too early to call”?? But- Platner =73.6 Mills=16.5 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1105 "2026-06-10T01:14:50Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > It’s a fact that he had a tattoo that some people claim is a Nazi tattoo. “Some people” including Platner himself. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1106 "2026-06-10T01:18:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > “Some people” including Platner himself Just goes to show you how effective Republican swiftboating has been - they even fooled Platner himself! > **Non-functional link hidden \<-ParallelLines** > > [https://www.giraffeboards.com/images/smilies/addons/foil.gif](https://www.giraffeboards.com/images/smilies/addons/foil.gif) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1107 "2026-06-10T01:24:09Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Just goes to show you how effective Republican swiftboating has been - they even fooled Platner himself! Platner admitted he found out it was a Totenkopf, then covered it up. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1108 "2026-06-10T01:36:06Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Platner admitted he found out it was a Totenkopf, then covered it up. Words matter and please read for comprehension. [According to AP](https://apnews.com/article/maine-platner-senate-trump-mills-tattoo-collins-fa8328a3c8aa5d5e0f34adb379e977b8), this is what Graham has said (my italics): The first-time political candidate said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007, when he was in his 20s and in the Marine Corps. It happened during a night of drinking while he was on leave in Croatia, he said, adding he was unaware until recently that the _image has been associated with Nazi police._ Swiftboating and probably more than a dash of lazy journalism has turned that generally now into “he had a nazi tattoo.” ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1109 "2026-06-10T01:38:10Z")
It’s finally called for Platner > **[Graham Platner wins the Democratic primary for US Senate in Maine, will face...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/platner-seeks-democratic-nomination-us-040223519.html)** > > Graham Platner won the Maine Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, setting up a high-stakes race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Platner, an oyster farmer and former chair of the plan... ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1110 "2026-06-10T01:41:11Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > . It happened during a night of drinking while he was on leave in Croatia, he said, adding he was unaware until recently that the _image has been associated with Nazi police._ Okay, but that doesnt differ from what I said much. At one time- not long ago- he knew what it meant, and then took steps to cover it up. There is nothing which indicates he knew about it when he got it, and there is one- count em- ONE _anonymous_ claim he knew about it earlier. > [@hajario](#): > > It’s finally called for Platner With 74.2% of the vote. The Maine voters seem to like him. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1111 "2026-06-10T01:45:00Z")
74.2% of Maine Democrats are Nazis? This coverup goes deeper than we thought. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1112 "2026-06-10T01:47:14Z")
Lol. 🙀 ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1113 "2026-06-10T01:57:05Z")
I’m wanting to see what the tallies are in CD2 districts. Including relative turnout. That where Mills had been polling best prior to dropping out. If he dominates there as well as the CD1 urban strongholds that is a strong signal to me regarding the general. And if relatively good turnout for anti Trump enthusiasm, with Collins correctly being seen as his obedient proxy. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1114 "2026-06-10T02:00:40Z")
People aren’t going to vote for someone who isn’t campaigning. The idea of challenging Platner after the revelations of the past week or two would only have happened if she actually campaigned. I don’t know the details but I’d suspect that turnout was dependent on whether voters had another primary race to vote in that was actually contested. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1115 "2026-06-10T02:11:43Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Swiftboating and probably more than a dash of lazy journalism has turned that generally now into “he had a nazi tattoo.” Yes, how dare they turn “he had a Nazi tattoo” into “he had a Nazi tattoo”. I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1116 "2026-06-10T02:14:16Z")
Early voting alone was close to all votes cast in the D primary there in '22. The race for governor is tight, especially with their ranked voting system. People are voting. If they were very turned off by recent controversy they would either vote Mills, as they had been polling they would do before she dropped, or leave it blank while voting for the governor choice. It actually will have meaning. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1117 "2026-06-10T02:14:51Z")
Given that there were actual _Nazi tattoos_ calling his a Nazi tattoo is lazy journalism. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1118 "2026-06-10T02:17:14Z")
“Having a totenkopf tattoo” != “being a Nazi”. You still haven’t answered my question as to whether Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are Nazis, BTW. [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Kiss_Logo.svg/960px-Kiss_Logo.svg.png?_=20190814054605) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Kiss_Logo.svg/960px-Kiss_Logo.svg.png?_=20190814054605) ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1119 "2026-06-10T02:25:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yes, how dare they turn “he had a Nazi tattoo” into “he had a Nazi tattoo”. I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make. He had a tattoo that some associate with a Nazi tattoo. This has morphed into most news writing “he had a Nazi tattoo.” It’s not the same thing. Christ, it’s not like he had an obvious, unmistakable swastika or the SS lightning bolts. (ya, Buddhists are not real happy about swastika’s being hijacked by the Nazi’s, but that’s a different thing.) ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1120 "2026-06-10T02:53:19Z")
From here, > **[Platner’s Fellow Marine Pushes Back on Accuser’s Claim About Their Tattoos](https://zeteo.com/p/platners-fellow-marine-pushes-back)** > > A Marine who got matching tattoos with Platner tells Zeteo ‘we did not purposely get hateful fucking shit… We just got matching skull-and-crossbone tattoos that we thought looked cool.’ > Phil Proschko, who served with Platner in the Marines, dismissed this claim in a brief interview with Zeteo on Friday. > > “No, we did not purposely get hateful fucking shit because we’re racist people,” he said. “We got matching tattoos because we were in our 20s, drunk in Croatia, and that’s it. That’s all that fucking happened.” > > Proschko, who participated in a Platner veterans town hall several weeks ago, told the story of their tattoos this way: “We went, we got matching tattoos that we pulled off the wall, or it was out of a book, I don’t remember. We thought it looked cool, something to commemorate what happened, all the people we lost in our unit in Ramadi.” Clearly Proschko is just giving a cover story for Proschko’s Nazi tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1121 "2026-06-10T03:28:33Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > CD2 districts. ??? > **[Maine Senate Primary Election 2026 Live Results](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/maine-senate-results)** > > See live results from the 2026 Maine Senate primary election as Republican and Democrat votes are counted by candidate and township. > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > “No, we did not purposely get hateful fucking shit because we’re racist people,” he said. “We got matching tattoos because we were in our 20s, drunk in Croatia, and that’s it. That’s all that fucking happened.” > > Proschko, who participated in a Platner veterans town hall several weeks ago, told the story of their tattoos this way: “We went, we got matching tattoos that we pulled off the wall, or it was out of a book, I don’t remember. We thought it looked cool, something to commemorate what happened, all the people we lost in our unit in Ramadi.” Sounds more likely to me. > [@DSeid](#): > > The race for governor is tight, especially with their ranked voting system. People are voting. It does look like Charles for the GOP candidate, but Shaw, Pingree and Jackson are close for the Dems. [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/maine-governor-results](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/maine-governor-results) > [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > People aren’t going to vote for someone who isn’t campaigning. Costello _was_ campaigning. He got 8%. > [@China\_Guy](#): > > Christ, it’s not like he had an obvious, unmistakable swastika Leafar Seyer aka Rafael Reyes had a large swastika, but covered it up later, so did Tommy Lee from Mötley Crüe. The Sex Pistols wore swastikas for the “shock value”. All Nazis. 🙀 How about people who wear full Nazi regalia and uniforms? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1122 "2026-06-10T04:32:44Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The Sex Pistols wore swastikas for the “shock value”. The Ramones, as I believe I mentioned earlier in the thread, did the same. Joey and Tommy were also Jewish. And their band predated the Sex Pistols. The Dictators had a song called Master Race Rock. They had multiple members who were Jewish including Handsome Dick Manitoba and Ross “The Boss” Friedman. Clearly all Nazis. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179.md?page=55) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179.md?page=57)