{"id":2606894,"date":"2026-05-26T11:35:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T15:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-jake-auchincloss-refuses-to-endorse-platner-over-disqualifying-tattoo\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T11:36:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T15:36:04","slug":"democrat-jake-auchincloss-refuses-to-endorse-platner-over-disqualifying-tattoo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-jake-auchincloss-refuses-to-endorse-platner-over-disqualifying-tattoo\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrat Jake Auchincloss refuses to endorse Platner over &#8216;disqualifying&#8217; tattoo"},"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%2Fdemocrat-jake-auchincloss-refuses-to-endorse-platner-over-disqualifying-tattoo%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=2606894&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>Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) publicly criticized Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner, refusing to endorse him after scrutiny over a tattoo that resembled Nazi imagery, specifically the \u201cDeath\u2019s Head\u201d symbol associated with Hitler\u2019s SS. Auchincloss-who described the tattoo and Platner\u2019s comments as personally disqualifying-said voters should agree.<\/p>\n<p>The article notes that Platner has said he didn\u2019t know the symbol\u2019s meaning when he got the tattoo in his 20s while drinking with Marines, and claims he\u2019s \u201cnot a secret Nazi.\u201d Auchincloss had previously urged Platner to drop his bid, but the race has narrowed to Platner becoming the lone Democrat after Gov. Janet mills exited her candidacy. That sets up Platner\u2019s contest with incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).<\/p>\n<p>Some left-leaning Democrats criticized Auchincloss for intervening against the party\u2019s nominee,arguing it effectively helps Collins. Despite the backlash, Platner is backed by progressives such as bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and polling cited in the piece shows Platner leading Collins by about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/quinnipiac-poll-gop-majority-want-third-trump-presidential-campaign\/\" title=\"Quinnipiac Poll: GOP Majority Want Third Trump Presidential Campaign\">7 percentage points<\/a>.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) slammed his party\u2019s own Senate candidate in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maine\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"193\">Maine<\/a> on Monday night, refusing to endorse Democratic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sanders-publicly-discourages-janet-mills-run-for-maine-senate-seat\/\" title=\"Sanders publicly discourages ... run for ... ... seat\">oyster farmer<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"22643\">Graham Platner<\/a> over his controversial tattoo that closely resembled Nazi imagery.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner, the only remaining candidate running for the Democratic Senate nomination in Maine, has caught heat over the past several months for once sporting a now-covered-up tattoo of an image largely associated with the Nazi\u2019s infamous <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3858840\/maine-senate-graham-platner-nazi-tattoo\/\">Death\u2019s Head symbol<\/a>. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4581753\/congressional-black-caucus-writes-companies-oppose-redistricting-efforts\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Congressional Black Caucus writes hundreds of companies to oppose redistricting efforts<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4581727\/court-blocks-alabama-republicans-plan-instate-new-maps\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Court blocks Alabama Republicans\u2019 plan to instate new maps<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4580087\/what-to-watch-texas-primary-runoffs\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>What to watch in the high-stakes Texas primary runoff elections<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI find that tattoo and his commentary about it to be personally disqualifying,\u201d Auchincloss, a Jewish Democrat, said in a CNN interview. \u201cI hope Maine voters agree with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The symbol was used in the Holocaust by Adolf Hitler\u2019s SS-Totenkopfverb\u00e4nde, the unit responsible for the Nazi\u2019s concentration camps. Platner has said he did not know the meaning behind the symbol, telling the public that he received the tattoo in his 20s while drinking with his fellow Marines. Platner has said they chose the tattoo because it was \u201ca terrifying looking skull and crossbones\u201d and that he is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3858840\/maine-senate-graham-platner-nazi-tattoo\/\">\u201cnot a secret Nazi.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Auchincloss previously called on Platner to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FiEno_qkCPQ\">drop his bid<\/a> in the Senate race last October, weeks after Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) announced her candidacy in the Democratic primary in the race. However, Mills has now dropped her bid, making Platner the only candidate in the Democratic field and clearing the way for him to take on incumbent Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1302\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some leftist Democrats, such as California congressional candidate Saikat Chakrabarti, are criticizing Auchincloss for weighing in against Platner. Chakrabarti, who is running for retiring Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi\u2019s seat, said Auchincloss \u201cis essentially endorsing Susan Collins in Maine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAbsolutely no excuse for a Democrat in the House to back a Republican for Senate in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-democrat-headlines-replace-sinema-event-as-her-fundraising-numbers-stall\/\" title=\"House ... organizes &#039;...lace Sinema&#039; event amid stagnant fundraising figures.\">crucial swing seat<\/a>. Auchincloss should be primaried. His <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-republican-leader-slams-marjorie-taylor-greene-a-cancer-for-the-republican-party\/\" title=\"Top ...ublican Leader Slams Marjorie Taylor Greene: A \u2018Cancer For The ...ublican Party...\">primary election<\/a> is September 1 in a safe, D+11 seat,\u201d Chakrabarti <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/saikatc\/status\/2059117808664146233?s=20\">wrote<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think it would be a mistake for the Democratic Party to think that Graham Platner\u2019s brand of the Democratic Party is what wins us durable majorities throughout this country,\u201d Auchincloss said on CNN.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4577942\/platner-trump-like-response-maine-scandals-polls\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4577942\">PLATNER DEMONSTRATES TRUMP-LIKE TEFLON RESPONSE TO SCANDALS IN POLLS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Auchincloss\u2019s decision to weigh in and buck his party\u2019s likely nominee in Maine is noteworthy, given the seat\u2019s unique position in a swing state that went for former Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"748\">Kamala Harris<\/a> in 2024 by a 6.<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >9 percentage point margin<\/a>, but has also elected Collins, a Republican, to the Senate for five consecutive terms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner, a leftist, is backed by New England progressives such as Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"41\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elizabeth-warren\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"250\">Elizabeth Warren<\/a> (D-MA), who have <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3859770\/maine-senate-candidate-graham-platner-nazi-tattoo-covered\/\">stood by<\/a> the oyster farmer despite the tattoo scandal and in the face of a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4577942\/platner-trump-like-response-maine-scandals-polls\/\">slew of other controversies<\/a>, including explicit now-deleted Reddit posts. Platner currently holds an approximate 7-percentage-point <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/polls\/maine-us-senate-election-polls-2026.html\">advantage<\/a> over Collins, per recent polling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Auchincloss condemns Platner over Nazi-like tattoo in Maine Senate race<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2606895,"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\/05\/AP23060105311196.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[80275,38553,80274,80276,45142],"class_list":["post-2606894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-candidate-endorsements","tag-democratic-politics","tag-jake-auchincloss","tag-massachusetts-elections","tag-tattoo-controversy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP23060105311196.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606894","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\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2606894"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606894\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2606898,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606894\/revisions\/2606898"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2606895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2606894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2606894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2606894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}