# 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:** 57
**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, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1123 "2026-06-10T04:34:19Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > The Ramones, as I believe I mentioned earlier in the thread, did the same. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RpXb3cXT1kU/hqdefault.jpg "The RAMONES - Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World (Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpXb3cXT1kU) ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1124 "2026-06-10T04:42:09Z")
Surfing tale: I was introduced to the term “surf nazi” when I started the sport, early sixties, San Diego …it meant “hard core surfer”, to us, willing to go to any lengths for waves. A bit of gang affiliation I think as well… Swastikas on cloths and boards were not unheard of. Weird skulls etc, of course everywhere…surfers like that stuff. Greg Noll, one of the famous early surfers explained his groups use of the imagery. "In “The History of Surfing” by Matt Warshaw, Noll, the legendary big-wave rider and filmmaker behind the “Search for Surf” films, shrugged off accusations of latent Nazi sympathy by saying, “We’d paint a swastika on something for no other reason than to piss people off. Which it did. So next time we’d paint two swastikas, just to piss ’em off more.” I saw a bit of this during this time, kids wanting to anger their parents generation. My dad was a ww2 vet, I would never have thought of using swatiskas or dressing like a Nazi…I think he also understood surfers were just flipping the bird at everyone. This subject is still brought up in forums and chat groups, and of course argued about, innocent symbol or not etc. I did paint a Maltese cross on one of my boards foam, really nice design. Guys also reversed the swastika, and used that as decoration… I’m giving Platner the benefit of the doubt. If Im wrong I will return here and admit it…(a rare event at The Dope) ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1125 "2026-06-10T04:57:13Z")
[https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/09/politics/graham-platner-susan-collins-maine-south-carolina-primary-election-takeaways](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/09/politics/graham-platner-susan-collins-maine-south-carolina-primary-election-takeaways) ---
**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, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1126 "2026-06-10T05:06:22Z")
CD2 … Maine actually has two electoral districts: CD2 is the one that goes red while CD1 goes blue. I’m interested if his appeal to that area holds. He In any case no sizable protest vote against him by voting for Mills. I’m also wanting to see if some showed up to vote for governor but held off voting for Senator as a protest. ---
**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, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1127 "2026-06-10T05:14:09Z")
> [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](#): > > I was introduced to the term “surf nazi” when I started the sport, early sixties, San Diego … I grew up in OB in the '80s. Do you remember Dago Choppers? It was the motorcycle shop I’ve mentioned upthread that had an SS rune as its logo. [![](https://images.teepublic.com/derived/production/designs/75703812_0/1748458332/i_p:c_c62b29,bps_ba,s_630,q_90.jpg) ](https://images.teepublic.com/derived/production/designs/75703812_0/1748458332/i_p:c_c62b29,bps_ba,s_630,q_90.jpg) Never struck me as Nazi back then. Just a way of showing off how badass they thought themselves to be. My dad was a biker. My mom thought his buddies were just a bunch of losers who used those symbols to try to make themselves look tough. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1128 "2026-06-10T06:19:54Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I was shocked the first time i visited Japan to see little swastikas all over the tourist maps. But they mean “shinto shrine” (or maybe " Buddhist temple" , i forget). Buddhist. Circa 2020 a proposal was made to substitute a three-story pagoda icon but there was push back from locals who said the manji, as it’s called in Japanese, was in use by Buddhists a lot earlier and far longer than by Nazis. A compromise was made to use the pagoda on tourist maps but keep the manji on maps intended for internal use. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1129 "2026-06-10T06:39:27Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > . If Platner wins, then we also lose other Senate seats, because running an obvious Nazi will sway a lot of low-information voters, in all states, against the Democratic party as a whole. Well, i certainly hope not. But i don’t think this is terribly likely. People vote for parties as a whole. People vote for candidates in the ballot. I don’t think people generally vote against a guy who isn’t on their ballot. And i don’t think they’ll vote against “the Democrats” based on the tattoos of one junior senator in another state. Now, if he starts saying “heil Hitler” in the Senate, that might cause some problems. But more in a “the Senate doing bad things” way than in a “I’ll vote against Bernie Sanders because this other guy is bad” way. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1130 "2026-06-10T11:57:38Z")
So Platner is the nominee. I hope he wins in the general. To retake the Senate we probably need him to win. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1131 "2026-06-10T12:11:53Z")
Should there be a new thread now that he’s the nominee? Does that change anyone’s calculus? Folks talking about rejecting him for Mills, now that he’s the nominee, if you were a Maine voter, who would you vote for in the general? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1132 "2026-06-10T12:25:32Z")
I’m curious whether the folks that think he’s a Nazi are persuadable. Are there actions he could take now that would change your mind? For me, who’s persuaded he’s a dumbass, there are actions he could take in either direction. If he shows through his words or actions going forward a sympathy for white supremacist ideology (as Collins has done, for example), I will admit error in thinking that everything else was an error on his part. Contrariwise, if he shows an ability to campaign cogently and consistently in a manner that prioritizes making lives better via a progressive lens, I’ll think him much less of a dumbass. ---
**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, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1133 "2026-06-10T12:29:36Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I’m curious whether the folks that think he’s a Nazi are persuadable. Are there actions he could take now that would change your mind? Yes, if he does start consistently voting with the Democrats and against the Republicans, including voting on the right side on issues related to antisemitism and sexual abuse, then I’ll acknowledge that I was wrong. It’s just that, given everything we know about him, that seems even more unlikely than Collins doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1134 "2026-06-10T12:39:10Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Nobody’s denying that he had a totenkopf tattoo. Apart from China\_Guy, who continues to do so. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1135 "2026-06-10T12:45:42Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s just that, given everything we know about him, that seems even more unlikely than Collins doing so. Hopefully you recognize that this is opinion, and plenty of others disagree. There’s no quantification for Nazi/fascist sympathy. There’s reason to be concerned about both Platner and Collins having such sympathies, and unless/Platner is elected, no real way to compare the two, except with feelings and opinions. ---
**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, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1136 "2026-06-10T13:01:53Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Folks talking about rejecting him for Mills, now that he’s the nominee, if you were a Maine voter, who would you vote for in the general? Other than one poster I think every democrat in this thread would vote for him over collins. It’s straight up not a choice if you understand American politics. Even people like Fetterman are still obviously better than an establishment republican for the dems agenda. The only reason to be opposed is if you value how gross it would feel to you to vote Platner over any strategy. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1137 "2026-06-10T13:31:49Z")
I can think of three posters in this thread off the top of my head that may not, so I’m curious about their opinions, now that it’s a choice between Platner and Collins: @Babale, @Chronos, @DesertDog ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1138 "2026-06-10T13:35:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yes, if he does start consistently voting with the Democrats and against the Republicans, including voting on the right side on issues related to antisemitism and sexual abuse, then I’ll acknowledge that I was wrong. It’s just that, given everything we know about him, that seems even more unlikely than Collins doing so. Is there anything he could prior to the election that would sway you? I think there are things he could do, and news that could surface, that could affect my vote either way, fwiw. ---
**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, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1139 "2026-06-10T13:40:15Z")
Well the biggest harm for the Democratic primary selecting Platner is the reputational harm and eroding of norms that the Democratic party will suffer for nominating a Nazi, and that’s done now. Even if Platner loses the general, we will always be the party that nominated _The Boy with the Nazi Tattoo_ for Senate in Maine; can’t wash that stink off by losing in the General. So if he makes the difference between the Democrats having a majority in the Senate or not, that would be a net positive even if he’s an unreliable voter (which I expect it would be). That said, I suspect it’s all moot anyways, because there’s no way he wins after pictures of his dick and evidence that he sent them to underage girls leak from Kik. Considering the demographics of that platform, I would be shocked if that isn’t exactly the reason why he was using it over anything else. What I’m most curious about is whether there will be people here in this thread who continue to defend him; my prediction is that yes, there will be. ---
**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, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1140 "2026-06-10T13:41:09Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Is there anything he could prior to the election that would sway you? He could admit that he lied when he said he didn’t know about the Nazi tattoo until the campaign started, give a convincing reason as to why he did so, and a heartfelt apology for having done so. And he could also admit and apologize for some things _before_ his opposition digs them up and blasts him; that would also demonstrate remorse and responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1141 "2026-06-10T13:51:22Z")
Pretend you’re a Maine voter. What do you do on election day? ---
**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, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1142 "2026-06-10T14:05:17Z")
Move out of Maine. [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=56) [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=58)