Supporters for Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner have been dropping like flies over the past two days. All of the Democrats who were willing to stick with him despite the Nazi tattoo and the Lyndsey Fifield allegations are withdrawing their endorsements. Why? Because, as Bulwark founder Sarah Longwell made clear, Democrats want to win, and they're less certain they can do that now with a damaged candidate. If Platner's poll numbers were holding steady, it would be a different ballgame.
Perhaps Platner's biggest and most visible supporter was Sen. Bernie Sanders, who posted just a couple of hours ago that he has spoken with Platner and recommended that he step aside.
I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 7, 2026
Cue the photos:
Own it, This is your guy. We knew he was a woman abusing Nazi months ago yet you went all in. OWN IT COWARD pic.twitter.com/06L0D54EKN
— ohio made 👠 (@8timewinner) July 7, 2026
Totenkopf and dummkopf. pic.twitter.com/i8cI7Yadee
— AmishDude (@TheAmishDude) July 7, 2026
I did NAZI that coming. pic.twitter.com/ufG7Imr5vy
— NON NOBIS DOMINE (@VerumEstLiberta) July 7, 2026
This you? pic.twitter.com/cNs0zZSdkf
— Joel Fischer 🇺🇸 (@realJoelFischer) July 7, 2026
Bernie, you are so brave. Your morals and convictions are something to behold. Thank you for putting character above party.
— MAZE (@mazemoore) July 7, 2026
😜🤡
For future reference, how many sexual assaults must a Marxist candidate engage in before you will no longer support them?
— Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) July 7, 2026
Recommended
So, a Nazi tattoo and sexual assault of conservative women is fine, but sexual assault of a liberal woman is a bridge too far.
— IT Guy (@ITGuy1959) July 7, 2026
Nice to know where you flaming hypocrites draw the line.
But the NAZI SS CONCENTRATION CAMP GUARD TATTOO *wasn’t* enough for you to rescind your support of Platner.
— RJC (@RJC) July 7, 2026
You are a total disgrace.
You don't care about the allegations. There were plenty before this one. You care about his failing poll numbers and staying in power. When it became clear that he's going to lose to Susan Collins, your party does what it always does "in the name of democracy".
— CuriousAmerican (@CuriousAmerikan) July 7, 2026
This is the weakest statement I have ever seen. You should be embarrassed.
— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) July 7, 2026
What changed, Bernie?
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) July 7, 2026
Why? What happened?
— Deebs (@DeebsFLA) July 7, 2026
You enthusiastically supported a violent misogynist with a Nazi tattoo.
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) July 7, 2026
You don't get to walk away with a 27-word weak statement. pic.twitter.com/VmN1S3ALKu
Which allegations? The first ones? The ones after that? The most recent ones? The ones still to come?
— MT Johnson (@ItsMeMTJohnson) July 7, 2026
Why stop supporting him now? Literally nothing changed.
— Le Chef (@MrLiveFreeOrDie) July 7, 2026
Platner immediately sent out a statement and posted a video denying the latest allegations.
The only thing worse than your judgement of character is your economic literacy.
— Michael Moriarty (@MoriartyUSA) July 7, 2026
You’re a feckless clown of a man.
— TexasHillCountryPatriot 🇺🇸 (@THCP1776) July 7, 2026
That's probably the weakest statement we've heard from a Democrat yet … "I have recommended that he step aside."
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Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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