Overview

• Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner confirmed to ABC News that the deleted Reddit account was his and issued a video apology on X, attributing past comments to a period of post-service disillusionment.
• Reporting by CNN, Politico, The Washington Post, NBC News and others verified posts in which he called himself a communist, condemned police, disparaged rural white Americans and suggested armed resistance, with additional posts minimizing sexual assault and citing a racial tipping stereotype.
• DNC Chair Ken Martin said on CNN that the remarks are hurtful and indefensible but not disqualifying, adding that he believes in second chances and that the DNC will stay out of the primary.
• Platner’s campaign has taken immediate hits, including the resignation of political director and former state representative Genevieve McDonald, who said she could not stand behind his past comments.
• The controversy reshapes a high-profile Maine primary that now includes Gov. Janet Mills, with Platner’s earlier momentum from major fundraising and Sen. Bernie Sanders’ endorsement now under heightened scrutiny ahead of a potential challenge to Sen. Susan Collins.