{"id":2581485,"date":"2026-03-18T18:28:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T22:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-platner-responds-to-attack-ad-over-past-sexist-comments\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T18:31:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T22:31:02","slug":"graham-platner-responds-to-attack-ad-over-past-sexist-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-platner-responds-to-attack-ad-over-past-sexist-comments\/","title":{"rendered":"Graham Platner responds to attack ad over past sexist comments"},"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\">20<\/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%2Fgraham-platner-responds-to-attack-ad-over-past-sexist-comments%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=2581485&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>Maine senate candidate Graham Platner pushed back against a new attack ad from Gov. Janet Mills that resurfaced decade-old sexist comments found online. Mills released a 30-second spot highlighting Reddit posts about women and showing Platner\u2019s tattoo, which has been described as resembling a Nazi symbol; Platner apologized on X and urged voters not to judge him by his worst moment from 14 years ago.Platner had previously released a negative ad, and Mills\u2019 response signals a more aggressive tone in the primary. The two vie for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Susan Collins, with Mills supported by top Democrats like Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and planning to serve only one term, while Platner is endorsed by Bernie Sanders and Ruben Gallego and positions himself as a younger political newcomer. Recent polls had Platner leading Mills in the U.S. Senate primary.  <\/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\">Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner responds to attack ad over past sexist comments<\/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_2521856\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner pushed back against a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-indictment-who-is-fani-willis-the-georgia-prosecutor-facing-the-biggest-case-of-her-life\/\" title=\"Fani Willis: Georgia prosecutor in Trump indictment, facing monumental case.\">recent attack ad<\/a> from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\">Senate<\/a> primary rival Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/janet-mills\/\">Janet Mills<\/a> (D-ME) that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >highlighted past sexist comments made<\/a> on the internet over a decade ago.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Mills campaign on Tuesday released a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4494578\/janet-mills-graham-platner-rape-victim-comment-attack-ad\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4494578\/janet-mills-graham-platner-rape-victim-comment-attack-ad\/\">30-second spot<\/a> resurfacing Reddit posts from over 10 years ago, marking a sharp turn in what had been a generally positive primary contest.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4496444\/tim-scott-run-third-term-senate-2028\/\">Tim Scott to seek third term in Senate, abandoning term-limit commitment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4496377\/james-talarico-campaign-vegan-meat-texas\/\">James Talarico posts photo eating meat after GOP rips &#8216;nonmeat campaign&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4494797\/mike-rogers-sentinel-action-fund-endorsement\/\">Mike Rogers gets $15 million cash boost with Sentinel Action Fund endorsement<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;These are words and statements I abhor,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/daveweigel\/status\/2034341651468951903?s=20\">Platner said<\/a> in his 30-second response ad. &ldquo;Maine, I&rsquo;m asking you not to judge me for the worst thing I said on the internet on my worst day 14 years ago.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The posts, which first resurfaced in October, included comments suggesting women should &ldquo;not get so f***ed up they wind up having sex with someone they don&rsquo;t mean to.&rdquo; Another post said that women should &ldquo;act like an adult for f***&rsquo;s sake&rdquo; to avoid rape.<\/p>\n<p>Platner, an oyster farmer and military veteran, has also faced scrutiny over a now-covered tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3859770\/maine-senate-candidate-graham-platner-nazi-tattoo-covered\/\">Platner denied<\/a> he is a &ldquo;secret Nazi,&rdquo; claiming he was unaware of the symbol&rsquo;s meaning.<\/p>\n<p>Mills&rsquo;s Tuesday attack ad featured Maine women reacting to the internet comments. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s a horrible thing to say,&rdquo; one said. &ldquo;Disqualifying,&rdquo; another noted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Graham Platner: The closer you look, the worse it gets,&rdquo; the narrator closed while footage of Platner&rsquo;s tattoo played in the background.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The ad came <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">after&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mainemorningstar.com\/2026\/03\/04\/another-poll-finds-platner-leading-mills-in-u-s-senate-primary\/\">recent polling<\/a>&nbsp;showed<\/span> Platner leading the two-term governor.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after the ad aired, Platner issued an apology statement on X.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was horrified and did not recognize the man on the other side of the posts,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/2033923085728981129\">he wrote<\/a>. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m eternally grateful for the people of Maine who welcomed me home, made me the man I am today, and have now built this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/janet-mills-highlights-graham-platners-comments-about-rape-victims-in-attack-ad\/\" title=\"... highlights ...&#039;s comments about rape victims in ...\">beautiful campaign alongside<\/a> me.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-forces-dr-oz-herschel-walker-out-of-fitness-council\/\" title=\"Biden Forces Dr. Oz, Herschel Walker Out of Fitness Council\">attack ad suggests<\/a> a more aggressive phase in the primary. Until now, Mills has largely avoided negative campaigning.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Platner launched his own <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ENM5vQ-z2ZI\">negative ad<\/a> in October. &ldquo;Janet Mills again?&rdquo; an actor questions in the ad. &ldquo;She was a good governor, but I think it&rsquo;s time for change.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Both candidates are vying for the seat currently held by Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME), who announced last month that she would run for a sixth term.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4477066\/2028-presidential-election-hopefuls-slam-trump-iran-strikes\/\"><strong>2028 PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS SLAM TRUMP OVER IRAN STRIKES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Mills, in her second term as governor, has been endorsed by prominent&nbsp; Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY) and Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kirsten-gillibrand\/\">Kirsten Gillibrand<\/a> (D-NY), and plans to serve only one term if elected.<\/p>\n<p>Platner has framed himself as a younger, energetic political newcomer, earning endorsements from progressive figures such as Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ruben-gallego\/\">Ruben Gallego<\/a> (D-AZ).<\/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>Platner responds to Mills attack over old sexist posts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2581486,"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\/2026\/03\/AP25316623190872.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[75598,76106,14828],"class_list":["post-2581485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-attackad","tag-grahamplatner","tag-sexism"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP25316623190872.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581485","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\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2581485"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2581490,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581485\/revisions\/2581490"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2581486"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2581485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2581485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2581485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}