Democrats who drove Sen. Al Franken from office in 2017 over allegations of unwanted touching and kissing are now backing a Maine Senate candidate facing a string of controversies that include a tattoo linked to Nazi imagery, sexting and physical abuse allegations — a shift that Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith summed up in a single sentence.
“Democrats want to win,” Smith told the Associated Press.
Smith was appointed to the Senate in late 2017 to replace Franken after fellow Democrats demanded his resignation during the height of the #MeToo movement. The party at the time contrasted its approach with Republicans’ willingness to stand by Donald Trump through scandal and controversy. Nearly a decade later, Democratic leaders and senators have thrown their support behind Graham Platner, a first-time candidate who won this week’s primary after Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign.
Platner cruised to victory despite a growing list of controversies, the AP reported. He has a tattoo that is recognized as a Nazi symbol. Shortly after his marriage, he exchanged sexually explicit texts with other women. An ex-girlfriend alleged that he locked her in a room and forcefully twisted her arm; Platner denies the allegation.
For national Democrats focused on flipping both chambers of Congress in the midterms, the calculation is straightforward. The party sees Platner — an anti-establishment candidate backed by online progressive figures — as its best chance to unseat three-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has held the seat since 1997. Maine is one of the party’s most promising pickup opportunities.
Smith, who entered the Senate during the #MeToo purges, acknowledged the changed political landscape. When asked about the party’s approach to candidate standards, she pointed to the bottom line. “Democrats want to win,” she said.
Platner will face Collins in November. The race is expected to be one of the most expensive and closely watched Senate contests in the country.