Graham Platner’s new campaign manager has left the operation just days after joining, deepening concerns about the stability of his Senate campaign in Maine. This development aligns with a series of high-profile departures within the campaign, which has been struggling to manage a cascade of controversies. Political analysts suggest that the ongoing instability may be affecting public perception of Platner, who is running to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins. The resignation of the campaign manager comes as Platner faces mounting scrutiny over his past online behavior, including Reddit posts that have been widely criticized for endorsing violent political action and downplaying concerns about sexual assault in the military.
In a statement released earlier this week, former campaign manager Kevin Brown cited personal reasons for stepping down, citing the birth of a child as the primary motivation. However, the timing of the departure has raised questions about the internal dynamics of the campaign. Brown, a former political strategist who has worked with prominent Democrats like Barack Obama and Elizabeth Warren, joined the campaign after Genevieve McDonald, Platner’s former political director, resigned. The campaign has since brought in an in-house attorney and hired a compliance firm tied to progressive candidates, signaling an effort to rebuild trust with supporters and address legal and ethical concerns.
Poltico previously reported that Platner has attempted to distance himself from his past comments, explaining in a video that they reflected his mental state during a military deployment to Afghanistan and are not representative of his current views. Despite this, the controversies have persisted, including the ongoing issue of his tattoo, which resembles a Nazi symbol and has sparked debates about its implications. Platner has stated that he was unaware of the symbol’s significance at the time he got the tattoo nearly two decades ago and has since had it covered up. Nonetheless, the campaign continues to face intense scrutiny, particularly in a state with a strong political culture and a Senate race that is seen as a bellwether for national trends.
Despite the challenges, Platner has continued to poll ahead of his Democratic primary opponent, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, even as the party establishment has thrown its support behind Mills’ campaign. This has raised questions about the broader implications for the Democratic Party’s strategy in the midterms and whether Platner’s ability to maintain a lead in polls will translate into electoral success. As the campaign continues its efforts to navigate these controversies, the resignation of the campaign manager underscores the complex and often unpredictable nature of political campaigns in the modern era.