Graham Platner secured the Democratic Senate nomination in Maine, but his campaign is stumbling under a string of controversies — from a long-hidden Nazi Totenkopf tattoo to allegations from multiple exes about controlling behavior and infidelity — and Republicans are already circling as independents become the key prize in a matchup with Sen. Susan Collins.
Platner’s primary win surprised some observers given the baggage that followed him into the race. Over the course of his campaign he has been forced to answer for incidents and revelations that opponents and critics say are disqualifying for someone seeking federal office.
One of the most damaging details to emerge is a skull-and-crossbones tattoo Platner reportedly called “my Totenkopf,” which is widely linked to the Third Reich. That admission first appeared in reporting tied to a former girlfriend, and it has been a nonstop headache for the campaign since the revelation went public.
His campaign has pushed a redemption narrative, arguing that post-war trauma and alcohol problems explain past behavior and that Platner has changed. High-profile Democrats rallied to the cause, trying to convert concerns into a theme of forgiveness and growth ahead of a general election showdown.
That strategy faces a new obstacle as another alleged ex has come forward with similar claims about the tattoo and about Platner’s conduct. This second account adds weight to the original charge because it is not presented as a politically motivated attack, and the woman’s messages from 2021 and 2025 are being cited as corroboration.
Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner kept his hideous Nazi tattoo to remind himself “the US was the evil bad guy overseas,” according to an ex-girlfriend with whom he cheated on his fiancée in 2021.
The left-wing streamer, who spoke to The Post, is the second woman to say that Platner knew about the fascist origin of his Totenkopf skull and crossbones tattoo — despite his claims that he didn’t realize it was a Third Reich symbol until last fall.
Her assertions were backed up by texts reviewed by The Post that she’d sent to her mom in September 2025 in which she blasted him for his “Nazi tattoo,” “small d—k” and claims that he tarnished her reputation by using her to step out on his fiancée.
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The pair started talking in February 2021 and dated until mid-July 2021, she said.
The Post confirmed that the woman had alluding to a dalliance with “Graham” during that time period.
Reporters note the newer account did not accuse Platner of physical abuse, though past reporting by other women includes serious claims about controlling and abusive behavior. Those earlier accusations have already complicated the campaign narrative about remorse and rehabilitation.
Social posts and private texts from both 2021 and late 2025 form much of the public record now being discussed, and they contain explicit language and direct references to the tattoo and the relationship dynamics. Observers on the right say those messages strengthen the case that this is more than a political smear.
The Platner team has attempted to discredit at least one accuser as politically motivated, and he “strongly disputed” some memories that have been reported. Even so, new corroborating accounts make it harder to write off the controversy as sheer invention.
https://x.com/peterjhasson/status/2065187812702351527
For Republicans this is a live opportunity: independent and undecided voters in Maine will likely determine whether Platner’s nomination translates into a general election victory. Conservatives argue that allegations like these matter to swing voters who do not take party loyalty as their first priority.
The NRSC has not yet unleashed a full opposition effort, and GOP strategists say they are waiting for the most effective moment to amplify the record and force a broader media reckoning. If planned opposition research lands at the right time, it could make Platner a much tougher sell to the center.
The coming months will test whether the redemptive framing holds up under scrutiny and whether independent voters are willing to overlook serious personal controversies for partisan gain. With a Senate seat on the line, both sides are gearing up for a bitter, high-stakes fight that will hinge on trust, credibility, and who can persuade Maine’s swing electorate.
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