Graham Platner's lead campaign strategist, Morris Katz, admitted on Friday that the controversies that came out about the ex-Maine Democratic Senate candidate early on should have been enough to disqualify him from running.Katz told The New York Times that the anger and frustration surrounding Platner's campaign was valid.He said he often criticizes establishment Democrats for not learning from their mistakes, and said, "I think there are things here, many of the critiques that have been made, that are incredibly valid and things to learn from."Platner ended his Senate campaign in July after Jenny Racicot alleged the Senate candidate had raped her when the two were in a relationship in 2021, which was first reported by Politico.Political strategist Morris Katz greets Brad Lander, former New York City comptroller and Democratic House candidate for New York, during a primary election in New York on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
(Bloomberg via Getty Images)NEW EXPLOSIVE ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN STILL REELING FROM RAPE ACCUSATION"That being said, in hindsight, knowing what we know now, the Reddit posts alone probably should have been enough — or should have been enough.The tattoo should have been enough.
The initial New York Times story on troubling behavior should have been enough," Katz said.Katz's remarks drew some derision online, as those who felt Platner was problematic at the time were roundly dismissed and criticized by the candidate's allies."What a bunch of arrogant gaslighters," one wrote on X."Like there were a ton of us who were literally screaming this from the rooftops and were met with all kinds of name-calling."Platner was flippant about Platner's Nazi tattoo issue in a profile in The New York Times in January.
He was quoted as jokingly asking then-Iowa Democratic Senate hopeful Nathan Sage if he had such a tattoo as well.The New York Times published a story in June highlighting accounts from several women Platner has dated that referenced unset...