Sen. Van Hollen defends Maine Senate candidate’s Nazi tattoo citing PTSD
Big change in Maine Senate Democratic primaries
Chief congressional reporter Chad Pergram reports that Gov. Janet Mills has withdrawn from the Maine Senate Democratic primary, leaving controversial candidate Graham Platner as the presumptive nominee.
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Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., pushed back against criticism of U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner for his “Nazi tattoo” and past online comments, arguing that Platner’s behavior may be linked to PTSD from his deployment to Afghanistan and that he deserves a second chance.
Platner, an Army and Marine Corps veteran, is running to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. Platner became the leading Democratic candidate in the U.S. Senate race in Maine after Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspended her Senate campaign on Thursday.
In an interview with Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer, Van Hollen described Platner as a candidate who could “beat Susan Collins” and appeal to a broad coalition of supporters, primarily blue-collar workers, labor groups and Native American tribes. Van Hollen said Platner has proven he can connect with voters despite having “ups and downs.”
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Graham Platner, a Democrat from Maine and a U.S. Senate candidate, speaks in South Portland, Maine, on March 6, 2026. (Sofia Aldinio/Bloomberg)
“This guy has a Nazi tattoo,” Sherman asked. “How do you look at this?” He suggested this would be “disqualifying” from running for office.
“Let’s address a few issues, including comments he’s made in the past,” Van Hollen said. “I mean, he made it very clear that he went to war on behalf of the United States. He went through a really tough time, a PTSD-type period.”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks at a rally in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 2025, and supports detained Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi, who faces a deportation hearing after being detained during a citizenship interview. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Van Hollen continued: “He said there were a lot of things he did that he completely regretted. I believe that people should have second chances and that people can learn from their mistakes, and I think he’s doing that.”
In October, Platner told reporters that the tattoo on his chest, which resembles Totenkopf, the skull and crossbones symbol associated with Nazi police, had been covered up.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills responded to questions about her age and health during a CNN interview during her campaign to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins. (Getty Images)
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In past Reddit posts, Platner has said he is a “communist,” accused rural White Americans of being racist and stupid, and called police officers “bastards.” Platner said he aims to “lift people up” with his Reddit posts.
Platner has the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and shares his vision of implementing socialist policies like “Medicare for All” and eliminating the billionaire class.
