Maine Senate candidate had a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol, but House Democrats are split on whether it should disqualify him

The Maine Senate race is currently facing a scandal. One that seems to be creating divisions within the Democratic Party. At the center of the controversy is candidate Graham Platner, who is facing significant scrutiny over a past chest tattoo that bears a resemblance to a Nazi symbol. While some party members are calling for distance, others are stepping up to defend his candidacy as he prepares for the upcoming primary.

The debate centers on whether this past mistake should influence his viability as a candidate for the United States Senate. Rep. Seth Moulton from Massachusetts recently offered his support. According to The Hill, Moulton told CNN, “Graham clearly made a mistake. What I appreciated about him is he owned that mistake. He took responsibility for it. And I don’t think that that’s disqualifying.” 

On the other hand, Jewish Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), has explicitly refused to back Platner. “I’ve been clear about Graham Platner. I find that tattoo and his commentary about it to be personally disqualifying,” he told CNN’s Boris Sanchez, per The Hill. “I hope Maine voters agree with me. I think it would be a mistake for the Democratic Party to think that Graham Platner’s brand of the Democratic Party is what wins us durable majorities throughout this country.”

The symbolism of the tattoo has led to accusations of insensitivity

Platner, a former Army veteran and current oyster farmer, has emerged as the clear front-runner for the Democratic nomination following the end of Gov. Janet Mills’s campaign. He currently holds a 9-point lead over incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, which has raised the stakes for the June 9th primary election. 

Platner has maintained that he was unaware of the historical connotations of his chest tattoo. The symbol in question is a Totenkopf, which was famously used as an insignia by Adolf Hitler’s soldiers in Nazi Germany. Platner explained in an interview with the Associated Press, in October that he only learned about the association after hearing from reporters and D.C. insiders. Shortly after that interview, his campaign announced that he covered up his tattoo with another tattoo.

In a statement regarding the backlash, Platner told AP, “I absolutely would not have gone through life having this on my chest if I knew that — and to insinuate that I did is disgusting.” Per The Hill, he had previously explained on the podcast Pod Save America that he was completely unaware of the link when he originally got the ink. 

Platner is also dealing with criticism related to old, now deleted posts on Reddit, where he identified as a communist and used disparaging language toward police officers. The Maine Monitor has now made a collection of the posts. The Hill also reported that he told Pod Save America co-host Tommy Vietor that his online comments were attempts to get a rise out of people, asserting that they did not reflect his actual beliefs.

For Auchincloss, his refusal to support a fellow party member in a crucial swing seat comes down to his values and principles. Per The Hill, he told CNN that he believed it should take precedence over party loyalty. He referenced the political climate surrounding President Donald Trump as a cautionary tale, noting that Republicans suffered damage by ignoring similar lessons in 2016.

This stance from Auchincloss sparked a sharp reaction from other figures within the party. Saikat Chakrabarti, a candidate for California’s 11th House District and former chief of staff for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, took to X to criticize the congressman. 

“Jake Auchincloss is essentially endorsing Susan Collins in Maine,” he wrote. “Absolutely no excuse for a Democrat in the House to back a Republican for Senate in a crucial swing seat.” Chakrabarti went as far as to suggest that Auchincloss should be primaried for his position.

The upcoming midterms are a tense affair. For Republicans, it is key that they maintain their majority to support the Trump administration. There is already a lot of concern about the potential consequences of Trump supporting candidates only to take down the incumbent representative he sees as disloyal. Similarly, for the Democrats, the midterms are all about gaining control in a divisive administration.

In Maine, supporters seem to view Platner as a strong challenger capable of securing a victory against Sen. Collins. However, critics can’t move past his past conduct. The disagreement seems to highlight a broader tension within the party about character, vetting, and the necessity of maintaining a specific brand to secure durable majorities.