Democrats Nominate Extremist Graham Platner with Nazi SS Tattoo to Challenge Sen. Susan Collins in Maine

Hugh Hewitt compares the Democratic Party's choice of Graham Platner as its U.S. Senate candidate in Maine to an "Extremist Makeover." Platner will challenge Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate Republican widely admired across party lines.

Platner stands out for his Totenkopf tattoo, the death's head symbol worn by Nazi SS units, including the SS-Totenkopfverbaende that guarded concentration and extermination camps. He has also made numerous Reddit posts containing bigotries and hate speech over the years.

Extremists like Platner sometimes win party primaries for odd reasons, Hewitt writes, but their parties act surprised when they lose general elections badly. He predicts the same fate for Platner, whose idiosyncrasies have emerged publicly in recent months.

Collins beat Democrat Sara Gideon in 2020 by nine points, even as Joe Biden won Maine by the same margin. Gideon, then Speaker of the Maine House, received nearly $48 million in spending support, more than double Collins's $23 million, yet trailed in most polls.

About 20 percent of Mainers crossed party lines to back Collins over Gideon. Voters value Collins as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a role that aids state workers at Bath Iron Works, lobstermen facing federal rules, fishermen and residents hit by high winter heating costs from blocked pipeline permits.

Collins also serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, reserved for the most trusted senators. A native of remote Aroostook County, she campaigns constantly across Maine and prioritizes constituent service over partisan displays.

Collins and Platner differ sharply. Hewitt doubts Maine voters will swap their respected senator for a radical with a Nazi symbol and online bigotry, regardless of outside far-left funding.