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By Andrew Stanton
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Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s resurfaced social media posts on topics of guns, racism and communism sparked backlash.
Newsweek reached out to Platner’s campaign for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer and political newcomer, has garnered national headlines for his progressive, populist campaign to take on longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine. He has earned the backing of progressive leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders and has raised millions of dollars so far. But unearthed social media posts, first reported by CNN, could threaten to upend his bid.
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The stakes are high for Democrats hoping to reclaim control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority. Maine, a state that backed former Vice President Kamala Harris by about 7 points last November, is one of the party’s best opportunities to flip a seat. But Collins is a formidable incumbent, having won in tough political climates in the past. The election is likely to become one of the most contested of the 2026 midterms.
Graham Platner Social Media Posts—What He Wrote
CNN reported several posts Platner made to Reddit about various political issues. Those posts were made as recently as 2021 and have since been deleted as Platner has distanced himself from his past remarks.
In one post, he said he “became older and became a communist” in a thread about whether people get more conservative when they get older. In another post, he wrote that his time in the military “radicalized him,” leaving him “significantly more left today.”
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“It is difficult to see all that horror, as well as all the grift and corruption, and not find the entire thing utterly bankrupt,” he wrote, according to CNN. “I did used to love America, or at least the idea of it. These days I’m pretty disgusted by it all.”
He told CNN he no longer feels that disillusionment, but is still “very angry about the wars” he fought in.
In a separate post, he wrote, “Still got the guns though. I don’t trust the fascists to act politely.”
Elsewhere in a 2020 post titled, “White people aren’t as racist or stupid as Trump thinks,” he wrote, “Living in white rural America, I’m afraid to tell you they actually are.”
He told CNN, “I’m also a White guy and I don’t think I’m a racist. I don’t believe that. I’m sure I was just angry on the Internet about the state of things back then.”
Dan Shea, professor of political science at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, told Newsweek the report is a “bombshell.”
“Platner has been making an impassioned plea for both sides to come together. There are hard issues facing Mainers, like health care, the cost of housing and good jobs. It's not a partisan battle. So his pitch was for the voters to transcended partisan differences. But these revelations will drive away conservatives, certainly,” he said.
If he becomes the nominee, every Mainer will be familiar with those posts by next October, Shea said.
“Could he still win? That's hard to imagine, but he is tapping into something raw in the electorate -- something Senator Collins might not appreciate. I guess stranger things have happened, especially in the age of Trump,” he said.
He is facing several other candidates in the Democratic primary, including Governor Janet Mills, who has earned support from many in the party's more moderate wing.
Platner’s Social Media Posts Spark Backlash
Platner has faced a wave of backlash from both Republicans and Democrats over the posts.
“I’m old to enough to remember when Graham Platner proclaimed he can talk to Trump supporters because they're his neighbors. He actually thinks they're ‘racist’ and ‘stupid,’” posted Nick Puglia, a spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, to X.
New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz wrote to X, “This is the Democrat running against Susan Collins in Maine. He’s been portrayed as an everyman, blue collar guy.”
Some Democrats also criticized Platner over the posts.
“Can we stop this idiotic hero worship now? Younger does not equal better in every instance. In some cases, yes! But it is important to evaluate every candidate on the merits. I hate seeing the Dems be just as guilty of the cult of personality that is so prevalent on the right,” posted Democratic strategist Jennifer Holdsworth.
“The real problem is we can't afford to keep running unvetted shapeshifters whose web videos make msnbc viewers and bluesky doom scrollers feel good about themselves but are completely unacceptable to persuadable voters. how many times do we have to do this?” posted consultant Caitlin Legacki.
Others defended him.
“I refuse to clutch my pearls over Reddit comments when 4chan is in the White House,” posted Stefan Smith, head of digital engagement for the American Civil Liberties Union.
Pollster Adam Carlson wrote, "Pearl clutch if you must, but if we’re disqualifying millennial & Gen Z candidates for posting dumb s*** on social media when they were younger we’re not gonna have anyone left to run in a few cycles. He’s disavowed them, we’ll see how much voters care. I’m sticking with Graham."
What People Are Saying
Platner told CNN: “That was very much me f****** around the internet. I don’t want people to see me for who I was in my worst Internet comment—or even frankly who I was in my best internet comment…I don’t think any of that is indicative of who I am today, really,” Platner told CNN.”
Shea also told Newsweek: “While there is certainly an anti-establishment sentiment in Maine right now, it's also not easy to tag Janet Mills as "the establishment." Mainers know Janet, and they have for a long time. There's no silver spoons in her draws. So my guess is that his ‘Janet and Susan are coming to get me’ pitch might not work particularly well. Sure, the system needs to change, and maybe Janet is out of touch, but she's not ‘the big guy.’”
Journalist Aaron Blake wrote to X: “You begin to see why Dem leadership might not have been as keen on this guy as some in the base appear to be.”
What Happens Next
Whether backlash to the posts significantly changes the Maine Senate race is yet to be seen. The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball both classify the race as a pure toss-up.
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