Morris Katz, the Democratic strategist who helped bring Graham Platner into Maine's U.S. Senate race, now says the candidate's past Reddit posts about Black people and sexual assault in the military were a clear warning sign that the party failed to heed.
In an interview on The Ezra Klein Show released Friday, Katz addressed the string of controversies that ultimately pushed Platner to drop out of the race to challenge incumbent GOP Sen. Susan Collins. The oyster farmer exited the contest earlier this month after a former romantic partner accused him of forcing her to have sex in 2021—an allegation Platner has forcefully denied.
Klein pressed Katz on a since-deleted Reddit post in which Platner advised readers to avoid getting “blacked out” in order to prevent sexual assault. Katz acknowledged the post was a critical misstep. “I think it should’ve been a red line,” he said, adding that Platner had described it as one of his biggest regrets, a relic from a time when he was “lost” and “angry.”
The strategist also addressed the sexual assault allegation that effectively ended Platner’s campaign. He argued that no standard vetting process would have uncovered the claim when Platner was recruited, pointing to similar allegations against former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) that emerged only after years in public office. Swalwell has also denied those accusations.
Still, Katz conceded that, in hindsight, the warning signs were abundant. “That being said, I think in hindsight, knowing what we know now, the Reddit posts alone probably should have been enough … the tattoo should have been enough, the initial New York Times story on troubling behavior should have been enough,” he said. He added that both things can be true: that the party needs candidates from outside the political arena, and that the U.S. Senate demands a higher standard.
Maine Democrats are set to formally select Platner’s replacement on Saturday. Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, who lost the state’s Democratic gubernatorial primary earlier this year, is widely seen as the party’s top choice. The race to unseat Collins remains a key battleground as Senate Democrats see a path to majority despite internal turmoil over Platner's collapse and broader left-wing rifts.
The saga has intensified Democratic infighting over candidate vetting, with critics like activist David Hogg slamming the party for backing what he called “terrible” candidates. Meanwhile, Jackson's rapid consolidation of support after Platner's exit underscores the party's scramble to salvage the race.
