Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) delivered a blistering rebuke of Maine's Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner on Friday, asserting that the scandal-ridden candidate does not represent the party's values. In an interview with Fox News's Laura Ingraham, Fetterman said Platner is 'not even a Democrat' and accused the party of reluctantly embracing him out of necessity.
'We're the party of pearl clutching, and now we've embraced him because we don't have a choice,' Fetterman told Ingraham. 'Like if you can't really defend him, you could at least say, well, he has a 'D' after his name, but he's not even a Democrat.' He added, 'He actually described himself as a communist.'
Platner, an Army veteran and oyster farmer, emerged victorious from Maine's Democratic primary on Tuesday, setting up a general election contest against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). His campaign has been overshadowed by a series of controversies, including allegations of sending sexual messages to women outside his marriage early on. Several former girlfriends told The New York Times that Platner exhibited 'toxic' and 'unsettling' behavior during their relationships. Platner has denied any physical intimidation or altercations, telling MS NOW that 'those serious allegations are just not true.'
Further complicating his candidacy, Platner faced backlash for deleted Reddit posts in which he downplayed sexual assault in the military, called himself a 'communist,' and labeled police as 'bastards.' He also covered up a chest tattoo after being told it resembled a Nazi symbol—a controversy that has fueled criticism from both parties. This episode echoes broader concerns about the party's vetting process, as highlighted in a recent analysis of the Maine Democrat's Nazi tattoo that exposed a hypocrisy crisis within the party.
In his victory speech, Platner sought to deflect the negative press, telling supporters, 'Now, the national pundits, the political establishment, they keep looking for that one story, that one headline, that one moment in my life that they can define the campaign by. But in trying so hard to understand me, they failed to understand that this is not about me at all. This is a movement about us.'
Fetterman dismissed this framing, calling Platner's attempts at redemption hollow. 'This isn't redemption; this is a guy who's been caught,' he said. The Pennsylvania senator, who has often broken with his party on key issues, was pressed by Ingraham on whether he would campaign for Collins instead. 'Of course not,' Fetterman replied. 'I am a Democrat. Senator Collins, we have different views.'
Platner has cited his struggles with PTSD from military deployments as a factor in his past behavior, but Fetterman's comments underscore the deep unease among some Democrats about the nominee's viability. The race in Maine is seen as a critical battleground for Senate control, with Collins seeking a sixth term. Meanwhile, national Democrats are grappling with broader challenges, including pushing for a new healthcare agenda as ObamaCare gains fade ahead of midterms and navigating internal divisions on issues like surveillance, as seen in the standoff over FISA 702 extension.
The controversy also highlights the party's difficulties in maintaining unity, especially as figures like Fetterman break ranks. Fetterman has previously dismissed questions about a potential party switch, but his sharp critique of Platner signals that the party's leftward drift may face internal resistance. As the general election approaches, Platner's ability to overcome his baggage will be tested against Collins's well-funded incumbency.
