Graham Platner, a Democrat vying for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat, has stumbled into a firestorm over old Reddit posts that could make even the most hardened political operative wince.
According to the Daily Mail, Platner, a 40-year-old veteran challenging Republican incumbent Susan Collins, issued a heartfelt apology after a trove of derogatory comments on sexual assault, race, and law enforcement from 2013 to 2021 resurfaced, threatening his Bernie Sanders-endorsed campaign as he faces a primary showdown with Maine Governor Janet Mills for the 2026 election.
As a Marine and Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, Platner returned home in 2011 and left the military in 2012, carrying the weight of combat and, by his own admission, a mindset shaped by a rough, male-dominated infantry culture.
Fast forward to the present, and Platner’s past online musings under the username 'P-Hustle' have come back to haunt him, with The Washington Post exposing comments that downplayed sexual assault in the military.
Not stopping there, the Bangor Daily News highlighted a post where Platner questioned tipping habits based on race, while other threads from 2020 show him labeling rural white Americans as ignorant and prejudiced in response to discussions about Trump’s views.
By 2021, his Reddit activity took an even sharper turn, with Platner declaring himself a communist and agreeing with a jab at police as universally unworthy of respect, stating, “All of them, in fact” (Reddit, 2021).
Facing a backlash that could sink his left-leaning campaign, Platner released a five-minute video apology on a Friday, expressing regret and distancing himself from those past sentiments.
“Things that I absolutely do not agree with, I see words and statements that I abhor,” Platner said in the video, reflecting on posts he now finds indefensible.
He attributed much of his crude language to the infantry’s harsh environment and personal struggles, noting that women weren’t even allowed in combat roles during his service, which shaped a certain tone he no longer endorses.
Platner didn’t shy away from the personal toll of war, admitting to battling PTSD, depression, and disillusionment after fighting in conflicts he later questioned.
“I was struggling deeply,” he confessed in the apology video, describing a search for community through online outlets where his rage and isolation found a dark expression.
Yet, he claims a turning point came in 2021 when he returned to Sullivan, Maine, started a business, found love, and rebuilt connections that pulled him from despair to hope.
While Platner, once an oyster farmer, tries to pivot to a story of redemption, the timing couldn’t be worse as he squares off against Maine’s two-term Democratic Governor Janet Mills in a primary for the 2026 Senate race.
With national Democrats eyeing Maine as a critical pickup opportunity against Susan Collins—who often aligns with Trump on major votes despite her independent branding—Platner’s baggage might hand ammo to the other side, even as Bernie Sanders doubles down, calling him a “great working class candidate” on social media.
