Key Takeaways
- Former Jill Biden press secretary Michael LaRosa says he is “shocked” by the level of Democratic backing for Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner, whom he views as incompatible with core Democratic values.
- LaRosa cites Platner’s resurfaced sexually explicit online posts, a mocking comment about a Purple‑Heart‑earning veteran wounded by the Taliban, and a visible Nazi‑symbol tattoo as reasons he cannot support the candidate.
- He warns that Democrats are playing a “dangerous game” by prioritizing victory over principle, arguing that winning the seat is not worth compromising the party’s standards.
- LaRosa contrasts Platner with incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, describing Collins as more aligned with his own political style and noting Platner’s elite‑school background undermines his populist rhetoric.
- He points to the 2020 Senate race as a cautionary tale: Democrat Sara Gideon led Collins in every poll and out‑raised her, yet Collins won re‑election by nine points, suggesting high polling does not guarantee victory.
- LaRosa also defends moderate Democrats like Senator John Fetterman, arguing that the party is now punishing members for holding views that were once mainstream, mirroring the tactics used against Trump’s opponents.
- With Governor Janet Mills out of the race, the Democratic nomination defaults to Platner, leaving Maine voters to decide whether his candidacy reflects their values or whether they will opt for Collins instead.
Former Press Secretary for First Lady Jill Biden, Michael LaRosa, voiced deep concern over the enthusiasm many Democrats are showing for Graham Platner, the party’s presumptive nominee for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat. Speaking to Fox News Digital, LaRosa said he is “shocked” by the number of fellow Democrats—people he considers friends—who have rallied behind Platner despite what he sees as serious red flags. He contends that Platner’s past behavior, including sexually explicit and vulgar online posts, a disparaging remark about a Purple‑Heart‑earning veteran shot multiple times by the Taliban, and a chest tattoo depicting a Nazi symbol, disqualifies him from representing Democratic ideals. LaRosa asserted that supporting a candidate with such a background is “not really representative of the values I would expect in a Democratic candidate, even by today’s standards,” and warned that the party is “playing a really dangerous game” by overlooking these issues in pursuit of electoral victory.
LaRosa emphasized that his personal line is drawn at endorsing “a Democrat who has Nazi tattoos,” adding that he simply cannot bring himself to back Platner. While acknowledging the desire to win the Senate seat and secure a Democratic majority under Chuck Schumer, he argued that winning should not come at the cost of abandoning principled standards. “I’m not willing to take anybody off the street to run just because they arouse some vibes in a few portions of the Democratic Party,” he said, suggesting that Platner’s appeal is more about emotional resonance than substantive qualifications.
The former press secretary contrasted Platner with the incumbent Republican, Senator Susan Collins, whom he described as “much more my style than somebody who I consider kind of a performative economic populist like Graham Platner.” He noted the irony in Platner’s populist messaging given his education at elite New England preparatory schools—schools LaRosa’s own family could not afford—undermining the candidate’s claim to represent ordinary Mainers. LaRosa argued that Collins, despite being a Republican, aligns more closely with his own political sensibilities and would be a preferable representative for Maine.
Drawing from recent electoral history, LaRosa offered the 2020 Senate race as a cautionary tale. He pointed out that Democrat Sara Gideon led Collins in every poll, out‑raised and outspent her, yet Collins won re‑election by a nine‑point margin, with Maine voters also delivering Joe Biden a nine‑point victory over Donald Trump. “Sara Gideon did not trail Susan Collins in a single poll,” LaRosa remarked, using the outcome to illustrate that strong polling numbers and fundraising advantages do not guarantee electoral success, especially when voter sentiment can shift on Election Day.
LaRosa also defended moderate Democrats who have come under fire for positions that deviate from the party’s current progressive orthodoxy, singling out Senator John Fetterman’s support for Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and his criticism of Democratic border‑security policies. He argued that such stances were once “extremely normal or mainstream” within the party, yet are now being used to purge candidates who do not conform to a strict ideological line. “We’re going to do to John Fetterman exactly what Trump is doing to candidates who opposed him or aren’t with him 100% of the time, and I don’t like it,” he said, expressing discomfort with the party’s apparent shift toward ideological purity tests.
Finally, LaRosa noted that Governor Janet Mills’ withdrawal from the Democratic Senate race—citing fundraising difficulties—has effectively cleared the path for Platner to become the party’s nominee. He contended that the decision now rests with Maine voters, who must choose between Platner and Collins. “Maine now has the choice” to determine whether Platner truly reflects their values, frustrations, and aspirations, or whether they will opt for the more established, albeit Republican, incumbent. LaRosa concluded that, regardless of the outcome, the Democratic Party has presented Maine voters with a stark choice, and it will be up to the electorate to decide which candidate best represents their interests.