In an interview with CNN on Monday, U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) said he finds Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner‘s tattoo disqualifying. Auchincloss said: “I find that tattoo and his commentary about it to be personally disqualifying. I hope Maine voters agree with me.”
[NOTE: In October, Platner, who is running against incumbent Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), revealed that he had a tattoo on his chest (a skull and crossbones image that has been associated with Nazi police), which he got in his 20s while in the Marine Corps during a night of drinking. It is covered with another tattoo of a Celtic knot and dog-like creature.]
Fellow Democratic candidate Saikat Chakrabarti, who’s running for Nancy Pelosi’s congressional seat in California, responded: “Jake Auchincloss is essentially endorsing Susan Collins in Maine. Absolutely no excuse for a Democrat in the House to back a Republican for Senate in a crucial swing seat. Auchincloss should be primaried. His primary election is September 1 in a safe, D+11 seat.”
Jake Auchincloss is essentially endorsing Susan Collins in Maine. Absolutely no excuse for a Democrat in the House to back a Republican for Senate in a crucial swing seat.
Auchincloss should be primaried. His primary election is September 1 in a safe, D+11 seat. https://t.co/YVTSyDhMQb
— Saikat Chakrabarti for Congress (@saikatc) May 26, 2026
Auchincloss responded to the post-interview feedback by writing: “Susan Collins is a rubber stamp for the worst admin in history. Claims that I would endorse her, implicitly or otherwise, ignore my track record supporting Democrats to take back both chambers. As I said months ago, I find Platner’s Nazi tattoo and his commentary about it personally disqualifying. If it were me I’d vote for someone else in the Maine Democratic primary. Regardless of what happens in Maine, Democrats need to take back the Senate and I’ll keep working hard to make it happen.”
Ron Filipkowski replied to Auchincloss: “You said his tattoo is ‘personally disqualifying’ and ‘I hope Maine voters agree with me’: 1. There are 2 choices in the race. 2. The race could decide the senate. 3. Your statement will be in lots of GOP ads. 4. Nobody in Maine wants anyone in MA to tell us what we should do.”
Jesse Arm, vice president of external affairs at the conservative think tank the Manhattan Institute, replied to Chakrabarti: “One possible excuse might be: The Republican is a moderate, pro-choice Trump-critic and the Democrat is a self-described communist with a Nazi tattoo.”
One possible excuse might be:
The Republican is a moderate, pro-choice Trump-critic and the Democrat is a self-described communist with a Nazi tattoo. https://t.co/mv1dPbal0E
— Jesse Arm (@Jesse_Leg) May 26, 2026
[NOTE: Collins occasionally votes against President Trump’s nominees and agenda, including in April when she voted to support a measure to “curb the Trump administration’s military operation in Iran.” She has a record of voting with Trump 96 percent of the time, however, and is not considered a moderate by everyone.]
Ethan Strimling, former mayor and state senator representing Portland, Maine, wrote about Collins in an op-ed titled, “Susan Collins is no moderate and Trump knows it.”
Strimling criticized Collins for voting in favor of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act and added, “Sen. Collins did exactly what Trump wanted and subsequently the bill will take away health care for tens of thousands of Mainers, empower ICE to disappear our neighbors, worsen our already fragile economy, and leave children in Maine hungry.”