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Platner Campaign Loses Treasurer as FEC Records Show Ben Martello Installed

A new FEC treasurer listing underscores growing operational strain tied to verified online posts, including a Nazi-linked tattoo.

Overview

  • Federal Election Commission records list Ben Martello as treasurer after Victoria Perrone resigned earlier in the week.
  • The treasurer change follows the exit of national finance director Ronald Holmes III, who said his professional standards no longer aligned with the campaign.
  • Local and national reports say a campaign manager and former political director Genevieve McDonald also left, with McDonald pointing to a Totenkopf-style tattoo and past online posts.
  • The campaign told Axios that nearly 90% of its funds come from small-dollar and online donors and said Holmes’ role focused on cultivating large contributors.
  • Platner is competing with Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic primary, and the winner is set to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in 2026.