Michael LaRosa, a former press secretary for First Lady Jill Biden, says his party’s backing of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner is a “dangerous game,” arguing Democrats are lowering standards despite controversy over Platner’s past comments and online po
When Michael LaRosa watches Democrats circle around Graham Platner, the former press secretary for First Lady Jill Biden says he can’t shake the feeling that something bigger is at stake than one Senate race.
LaRosa told Fox News Digital he was “shocked” by what he described as the intensity of Democratic support for Platner. even among Democrats he considers “friends.” He said he doesn’t understand why party officials appear to be going all-in “just to beat Susan Collins. ” and argued the candidate. as he sees it. doesn’t match the values Democrats should be presenting.
“Democrats are playing a really dangerous game,” LaRosa said, calling it “selective” and asking why the party is acting as though it has “short memories.”
At the center of his warning is Platner’s past—including criticism across the political spectrum over resurfaced sexually explicit and vulgar online posts. LaRosa also pointed to a post mocking a Purple Heart veteran shot multiple times by the Taliban. and he cited a tattoo of a Nazi symbol on Platner’s chest as another line Democrats. in his view. should not be willing to cross.
LaRosa said he personally draws the line at backing “a Democrat who has Nazi tattoos. ” and added that Platner was “just not for me.” He argued that Platner’s behavior and history should disqualify him. saying it is “his own behavior” and “his own history of rhetoric. ” including “advocating for political violence. ” and mocking wounded U.S. soldiers shot by the Taliban.
In LaRosa’s framing, the problem isn’t simply that Platner is controversial—it’s what that controversy would normalize.
“It’s just not worth it for me as a Democrat,” he said. “That does not make him a good candidate. It won’t make him a good senator. It just makes him a D. What’s the point in having a party if you don’t have standards anymore?”
Even with Platner continuing to lead in the polls. LaRosa said serious concerns about the candidate’s record are being brushed aside. He contrasted Platner with Susan Collins. describing Collins as “much more my style.” He also criticized Platner’s political pitch. calling him a “performative economic populist. ” and said Platner attended elite private schools that LaRosa’s family “certainly couldn’t afford.”.
LaRosa said he found it “odd” to hear Platner talk about the elite when Platner was educated by what he described as “the most elite of New England prep schools.”
He also pointed to a cautionary lesson from 2020, when he said he campaigned with former Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon. LaRosa described Gideon as repeatedly surging ahead of Collins in the polls before Collins won re-election in what he called one of the most expensive races in the state’s history. LaRosa said “Sara Gideon did not trail Susan Collins in a single poll. ” and argued that in that cycle. the Democratic effort outpolled. outraised. and outspent Collins—yet Maine chose both Joe Biden and Collins by 9 points.
That experience, for LaRosa, feeds into a broader argument about the direction of the party—especially when candidates break from what he describes as the party’s tighter ideological expectations.
He said some issues that were once treated as normal within Democratic politics are now being used to purge candidates. As examples, LaRosa cited criticism of Democrats’ handling of border security, and Sen. John Fetterman’s support for Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.
LaRosa argued those stances “were extremely normal or mainstream in the Democratic Party” years ago, but that they are now being targeted. He warned Democrats could be setting themselves up for disappointment, arguing the party is emulating what he described as a loyalty-first approach.
“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. “I don’t like that my party is going to target John Fetterman for simply having. holding and defending views that were extremely normal or mainstream in the Democratic Party.”.
LaRosa said he does not plan to publicly back Platner.
He said he personally would not “publicly support, give money to, contribute to or work for” Platner.
Despite his criticism, the mechanics of the race are already moving forward. Platner became the Democrats’ presumptive nominee in the June 9 primary to determine who would face Susan Collins in November, after two-term Gov. Janet Mills ended her campaign last month.
LaRosa said the choice now belongs to voters in Maine—whether they believe Platner reflects their views. He said Democrats appear to think Platner represents what Democrats believe people want outside of “Manhattan and D.C. ” and said it is “now up to the voters” to decide whether Platner will match their “values and their views and their anger and their frustrations.”.
“They now have the opportunity to vote for him or Susan Collins, and we, the Democratic Party, have given and provided Maine that choice for them,” LaRosa said.
Asked for comment, Fox News Digital reached out to the Platner campaign for response.
Michael LaRosa Jill Biden Graham Platner Susan Collins Maine Senate Democratic Party John Fetterman Janet Mills Hamas Taliban Nazi tattoo Purple Heart