Overview
- A University of New Hampshire poll of likely Maine voters conducted May 21–25 shows Graham Platner leading Sen. Susan Collins by about nine points and holding strong support among Democratic primary voters, positioning him as the party’s presumptive nominee.
- Questions about Platner’s past have intensified coverage after reporters republished deleted Reddit posts with inflammatory content and highlighted a skull‑and‑crossbones chest tattoo he says he got in 2007 and later covered when he learned of its Nazi associations.
- Democratic officials are publicly split over Platner, with Rep. Jake Auchincloss calling the tattoo and comments personally disqualifying and senators such as Chris Murphy and progressives including Bernie Sanders continuing to back or defend him.
- Outside groups and national campaign committees have poured money and booked large ad buys in Maine, turning a state primary into a national battleground and giving Republicans fresh material to use against Democrats.
- The near-term test is the June 9 Democratic primary, which will determine whether Platner faces Collins in November and could influence whether Democrats pick up a critical Senate seat this cycle.