{"id":2500744,"date":"2025-10-19T15:42:02","date_gmt":"2025-10-19T19:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dnc-chair-stands-by-platner-in-maine-senate-race-over-old-posts\/"},"modified":"2025-10-19T15:43:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T19:43:17","slug":"dnc-chair-stands-by-platner-in-maine-senate-race-over-old-posts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dnc-chair-stands-by-platner-in-maine-senate-race-over-old-posts\/","title":{"rendered":"DNC chair stands by Platner in Maine Senate race over old posts"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdnc-chair-stands-by-platner-in-maine-senate-race-over-old-posts%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2500744&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken martin defended Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner despite controversy over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nfl-star-chandler-jones-claims-raiders-sent-crisis-response-to-his-home-just-days-before-kickoff\/\" title=\"NFL star Chandler Jones alleges that the Raiders sent a crisis response team to his house shortly before the game.\">deleted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-this-average-american-is-voting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Why This Average American Is Voting for Donald Trump\">social media posts<\/a><\/a> from 2018. Platner apologized for his past comments made while he was struggling after his military service, which included statements supporting armed resistance for economic justice. Martin acknowledged the posts were &#8220;indefensible, hurtful, and offensive,&#8221; but emphasized his belief in second chances, stating that Platner showed sincere remorse and has changed his behavior. Platner will face Governor Janet Mills in the Democratic primary to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins in the 2026 midterm elections. Martin stressed that primary voters will decide the best candidates to run against Republicans, while the DNC will focus on supporting the eventual nominees.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DNC chairman stands by Platner in Maine Senate race over &lsquo;indefensible&rsquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >deleted posts<\/a><\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2369259\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Democratic National Committee Chairman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3830854\/ken-martin-confidence-democrats-regaining-power\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ken Martin<\/a> said Sunday he believes in &ldquo;second chances&rdquo; regarding Maine Senate candidate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3851908\/uaw-joins-unions-backing-oyster-farmer-graham-platner-over-janet-mills-maine-senate-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Graham Platner<\/a>, saying he thinks Platner acknowledges his &ldquo;harmful&rdquo; words.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/1979312580490596829\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Platner apologized in a video on X on Friday<\/a> for social media posts he made on Reddit in 2018, during which he was &ldquo;struggling deeply&rdquo; after serving in the Army. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/10\/16\/politics\/kfile-graham-platner-maine-senate-candidate-deleted-reddit-posts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The deleted posts<\/a>, made on the subreddit r\/SocialistRA, included statements like if people &ldquo;expect to fight fascism without a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-senate-candidate-who-smeared-white-voters-also-advised-reddit-socialists-on-rifles-to-use-against-fascism\/\" title=\"Dem ... Candidate Who Smeared White Voters Also Advised Reddit Socialists on Rifles to Use Against ...Fascism...\">good semi-automatic rifle<\/a>, they ought to do some reading of history,&rdquo; and another post saying &ldquo;an armed working class is a requirement for economic justice.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3855375\/competition-heats-up-for-nancy-pelosi-seat\/\">Competition heats up for Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s seat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3855748\/trump-ed-gallrein-primary-thomas-massie\/\">Trump pressures Ed Gallrein to primary Massie: &#8216;Must be thrown out of office&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3855354\/democratic-young-primary-challengers-strong-fundraising\/\">Democratic incumbents face young primary challengers with strong fundraising numbers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Martin expressed gratitude for Platner&rsquo;s apology, saying he doesn&rsquo;t think the candidate&rsquo;s past statements are &ldquo;disqualifying&rdquo; but are also &ldquo;not right.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;re indefensible, they&rsquo;re hurtful, and they&rsquo;re offensive. The question, though, is, I believe in second chances. I believe a lot of people say things at their most vulnerable times. They say things when they&rsquo;re young, that, again, are offensive, and the question for me is whether or not they actually learn from them, whether or not they actually reflect on those, that they&rsquo;re sincere in their apology, and, more importantly, that they have changed their behavior,&rdquo; Martin said on CNN&rsquo;s <em>State of the Union<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3190516&amp;userid=11311&amp;loginid=9421&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=b751ff97d34bb5de65af10e09a8e3883\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;And as I&rsquo;ve listened to Graham Platner, I absolutely believe in his contrition here. I believe that he acknowledges that the words he used were harmful and offensive to so many people throughout this country,&rdquo; Martin said.<\/p>\n<p>Platner and Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3818508\/janet-mills-senate-challenge-susan-collins-maine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Janet Mills<\/a> (D-ME) will face each other in the Democratic primary race to challenge sitting Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), one of several Senate seats up for reelection next year. The Democratic Party is looking to retake the House and the Senate in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3846747\/robert-white-dc-house-seat-norton-unable\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the 2026 midterm elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3855876\/shapiro-warned-biden-struggling-2024-campaign-before-dropped-out\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>JOSH SHAPIRO WARNED BIDEN &lsquo;DIRECTLY TO HIS FACE&rsquo; ABOUT STRUGGLING 2024 CAMPAIGN BEFORE EX-PRESIDENT DROPPED OUT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>CNN&rsquo;s Dana Bash asked Martin if the DNC is ignoring &ldquo;one of the big takeaways&rdquo; from the 2024 election, in which voters did not support reelecting former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3846868\/biden-begins-new-phase-of-cancer-care-with-radiation-and-hormone-therapy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joe Biden<\/a>, who was 81 prior to Election Day. Besides Mills, 77, entering a Senate race, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3851150\/massachusetts-democrat-seth-moulton-senate-bid-against-ed-markey-its-time-for-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) is running to primary Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)<\/a>, 79, next year.<\/p>\n<p>Martin said it will be &ldquo;up to the primary voters&rdquo; to decide who will be the best candidates to run against Republicans. Meanwhile, he will &ldquo;build the infrastructure&rdquo; and &ldquo;fight like hell&rdquo; once the primary races are decided.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DNC chief backs Platner, citing belief in second chances<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2500745,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25235715587199.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[7705,65283,65502,36160],"class_list":["post-2500744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-dnc","tag-maine-senate-race","tag-platner","tag-political-controversy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25235715587199.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2500744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2500744"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2500744\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2500748,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2500744\/revisions\/2500748"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2500745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2500744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2500744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2500744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}