Overview
- A University of New Hampshire survey conducted Oct. 16–21 shows Graham Platner leading Janet Mills 58% to 24%, with 14% undecided, before full circulation of the tattoo coverage.
- Sen. Bernie Sanders says he is sticking with his endorsement of Platner, while Sen. Chuck Schumer backs Mills and most Senate Democrats decline to urge Platner to leave the race.
- The Maine Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Maine State Troopers Association condemned Platner’s past Reddit posts, saying they have “no place in Maine politics.”
- Platner’s campaign is rebuilding operations with a new manager and a compliance firm; a former political director says she was offered $15,000 to sign an NDA, which the campaign describes as standard severance under newly instituted practices.
- Platner has apologized for offensive Reddit posts, including homophobic slurs reported as late as 2021, and says he has covered a chest tattoo he learned resembled a Nazi symbol.