Democrat Graham Platner, a candidate for Maine's Senate seat, has found himself in hot water after deleted posts resurfaced that show him calling himself a communist, insulting police, and making disparaging remarks about rural white Americans. These comments, made under the Reddit username “P-Hustle,” were posted around five years ago, before Platner launched his campaign in August. They have now resurfaced, much to the embarrassment of the self-proclaimed "grassroots" candidate.
The posts, which Platner deleted prior to his campaign launch, reveal a stark contrast to the persona he's trying to present to Maine voters. In these comments, Platner mocked law enforcement in response to police activity, calling all police officers "bastards" and claiming that rural white Americans were racist—an accusation he tied to support for President Donald Trump. Platner has since distanced himself from these statements, dismissing them as the work of an angry, disillusioned time in his life.
In a Tuesday interview with CNN, Platner tried to downplay his past comments, saying, "That was very much me f**king around the internet. I don’t want people to see me for who I was in my worst Internet comment – or even frankly who I was in my best Internet comment... I don’t think any of that is indicative of who I am today." He claimed the posts were a reflection of his "worst internet phase."
Platner’s deleted posts didn’t just target police. In one thread discussing an incident involving a Black Army lieutenant who was reportedly abused by police, Platner wrote, “All of them, in fact,” when responding to a comment that called police officers “bastards.” He also remarked that police violence was a widespread problem in law enforcement and was quick to dismiss claims of accidental shootings. “F**k these cops,” he wrote.
When addressing his anti-cop posts, Platner stated, "I can honestly say that this is me just being an a**hole on the Internet. I have an immense amount of friends who are police officers. They’re not all bastards because they’re literally buddies of mine.”
Platner also made waves with his comments about rural white America. In a deleted post from 2020, he responded to a thread titled “White people aren’t as racist or stupid as Trump thinks” by stating, “Living in white rural America, I’m afraid to tell you they actually are.” When questioned about the remark, Platner claimed he didn’t remember the specific discussion but suggested it was part of an online debate from that time.
The most telling of Platner’s past posts, however, came when he openly declared himself a communist. In 2021, Platner commented on the far-left subreddit r/Antiwork, stating, “I got older and became a communist.” He followed that up by calling himself “a vegetable growing, psychedelics taking socialist these days.” Platner’s far-left leanings were apparent as he disavowed his former patriotism, writing, “After the war, I’ve pretty much stopped believing in any of the patriotic nonsense that got me there in the first place.”
Despite his inflammatory past, Platner has been adamant that he is not a communist or socialist. In his interview with CNN, he asserted, “I’m not a communist. I’m not a socialist. I own a small business. I’m a Marine Corps veteran.” Platner, who has served in the Marines and worked for the State Department, continues to portray himself as a veteran, business owner, and the ideal candidate for Maine’s working-class voters.
However, his past comments paint a very different picture. Platner's history of retweeting Bernie Sanders and mocking President Trump suggests a far-left ideology that may not resonate with many of the Maine voters he hopes to attract. His campaign, which has produced ads through Fight Agency—famous for working with high-profile Democrats like Fani Willis and John Fetterman—has already sparked controversy, especially as he positions himself as a challenger to Republican Senator Susan Collins.
As Platner’s campaign pushes forward, his past may continue to haunt him. Voters will likely have to decide if his current persona aligns with his past behavior or if he’s merely trying to distance himself from his earlier, more radical views. What’s clear is that Platner’s attempt to be a “grassroots” candidate has been complicated by the resurfacing of his controversial comments. The road to the Senate will likely be much more difficult than he anticipated.
