Platner campaign strategist admits tattoo, Reddit posts should have been 'enough' to disqualify him

Graham Platner's lead campaign strategist, Morris Katz, admitted on Friday that the controversies that came out about the ex-Maine Democratic Senate candidate early on should have been enough to disqualify him from running.

Katz told The New York Times that the anger and frustration surrounding Platner's campaign was valid. He said he often criticizes establishment Democrats for not learning from their mistakes, and said, "I think there are things here, many of the critiques that have been made, that are incredibly valid and things to learn from."

Platner ended his Senate campaign in July after Jenny Racicot alleged the Senate candidate had raped her when the two were in a relationship in 2021, which was first reported by Politico.

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"That being said, in hindsight, knowing what we know now, the Reddit posts alone probably should have been enough — or should have been enough. The tattoo should have been enough. The initial New York Times story on troubling behavior should have been enough," Katz said.

Katz's remarks drew some derision online, as those who felt Platner was problematic at the time were roundly dismissed and criticized by the candidate's allies.

"What a bunch of arrogant gaslighters," one wrote on X. "Like there were a ton of us who were literally screaming this from the rooftops and were met with all kinds of name-calling."

Platner was flippant about Platner's Nazi tattoo issue in a profile in The New York Times in January. He was quoted as jokingly asking then-Iowa Democratic Senate hopeful Nathan Sage if he had such a tattoo as well.

The New York Times published a story in June highlighting accounts from several women Platner has dated that referenced unsettling behavior. The story faced scrutiny, as another one of Platner's accusers, Lyndsey Fifield, said the paper tainted her account.

Fifield's account was challenged by some left-wing media figures and politicians because of her past working for Republican organizations. She told Fox News Digital she felt betrayed by how the New York Times handled her allegations in the original report Katz referenced.

Klein asked Katz why he once described Platner's Reddit posts as an asset. CNN unearthed Platner's posts in October 2025 and found the Democratic Senate candidate once described himself as a "communist," wrote that "all" police were bastards and argued that many rural White Americans "actually are" racist and unintelligent.

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Additional reporting drew scrutiny to other deleted posts, including one in which Platner appeared to downplay concerns about sexual assault. In one post, Platner wrote that people should "take some responsibility for themselves" and avoid becoming so intoxicated that they end up in compromising situations.

Katz said it was good to see people show Platner some grace to show that he could have changed and evolved since the posts.

"I think that was something we needed, and I don’t want to lose that. I don’t want people’s lesson from this to be that there should never be room for grace. I think that there are a lot of people who have made mistakes or said controversial things who we want to win the support of, who we need to earn the trust of. But I also think I was wrong," he said.

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Katz said there was a vetting document about Platner and that it did find a Reddit account, but not the extent of what came out throughout the campaign. Klein noted the post about sexual assault and asked Katz about what he thought hearing the comments now.

"I think it should have been a red line. He talked about it being one of the things he regretted saying the most, that it was indicative of a time of his life when he was lost and angry, and that it was in no way reflective of who he was," Katz said.

Maine Democrats are expected to nominate Troy Jackson this weekend to replace Platner as they try to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a key swing vote in the Senate. Collins is seeking a sixth term.

Collins has the distinction of being the only Republican U.S. Senator to represent a state that President Donald Trump lost in all three of his presidential races.