Platner campaign strategist admits tattoo, Reddit posts should have been 'enough' to disqualify him

Graham Platner's lead run strategist, Morris Katz, admitted connected Friday that nan controversies that came retired astir nan ex-Maine Democratic Senate campaigner early connected should person been capable to disqualify him from running.

Katz told The New York Times that nan anger and vexation surrounding Platner's run was valid. He said he often criticizes constitution Democrats for not learning from their mistakes, and said, "I deliberation location are things here, galore of nan critiques that person been made, that are incredibly valid and things to study from."

Platner ended his Senate run successful July aft Jenny Racicot alleged nan Senate campaigner had raped her erstwhile nan 2 were successful a narration successful 2021, which was first reported by Politico.

Political strategist Morris Katz greets Brad Lander, erstwhile New York City comptroller and Democratic House campaigner for New York, during a superior predetermination successful New York connected Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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"That being said, successful hindsight, knowing what we cognize now, nan Reddit posts unsocial astir apt should person been capable — aliases should person been enough. The tattoo should person been enough. The first New York Times story connected troubling behaviour should person been enough," Katz said.

Katz's remarks drew immoderate derision online, arsenic those who felt Platner was problematic astatine nan clip were roundly dismissed and criticized by nan candidate's allies.

"What a bunch of arrogant gaslighters," one wrote connected X. "Like location were a ton of america who were virtually screaming this from nan rooftops and were met pinch each kinds of name-calling."

Platner was flippant astir Platner's Nazi tattoo rumor successful a floor plan successful The New York Times successful January. He was quoted arsenic jokingly asking then-Iowa Democratic Senate hopeful Nathan Sage if he had specified a tattoo arsenic well.

The New York Times published a communicative successful June highlighting accounts from respective women Platner has dated that referenced unsettling behavior. The communicative faced scrutiny, arsenic different one of Platner's accusers, Lyndsey Fifield, said nan insubstantial tainted her account.

Fifield's relationship was challenged by immoderate left-wing media figures and politicians because of her past moving for Republican organizations. She told Fox News Digital she felt betrayed by really nan New York Times handled her allegations successful nan original study Katz referenced.

Klein asked Katz why he erstwhile described Platner's Reddit posts arsenic an asset. CNN unearthed Platner's posts successful October 2025 and recovered the Democratic Senate candidate erstwhile described himself arsenic a "communist," wrote that "all" constabulary were bastards and based on that galore agrarian White Americans "actually are" racist and unintelligent.

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Graham Platner speaks astatine his Primary Election arena connected June 9, 2026 successful Blue Hill, Maine. (CJ Gunther/Getty Images)

Additional reporting drew scrutiny to different deleted posts, including 1 successful which Platner appeared to downplay concerns astir intersexual assault. In 1 post, Platner wrote that group should "take immoderate work for themselves" and debar becoming truthful intoxicated that they extremity up successful compromising situations.

Katz said it was bully to spot group show Platner immoderate grace to show that he could person changed and evolved since nan posts.

"I deliberation that was thing we needed, and I don’t want to suffer that. I don’t want people’s instruction from this to beryllium that location should ne'er beryllium room for grace. I deliberation that location are a batch of group who person made mistakes aliases said arguable things who we want to triumph nan support of, who we request to gain nan spot of. But I besides deliberation I was wrong," he said.

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Katz said location was a vetting archive astir Platner and that it did find a Reddit account, but not nan grade of what came retired passim nan campaign. Klein noted nan station astir intersexual battle and asked Katz astir what he thought proceeding nan comments now.

"I deliberation it should person been a reddish line. He talked astir it being 1 of nan things he regretted saying nan most, that it was suggestive of a clip of his life erstwhile he was mislaid and angry, and that it was successful nary measurement reflective of who he was," Katz said.

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Maine Democrats are expected to nominate Troy Jackson this play to switch Platner arsenic they effort to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a cardinal plaything ballot successful nan Senate. Collins is seeking a sixth term.

Collins has nan favoritism of being nan only Republican U.S. Senator to correspond a authorities that President Donald Trump mislaid successful each 3 of his statesmanlike races.