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NEW: Dem Congressman Breaks With Party, Urges Mainers Not To Vote For Graham Platner

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A Democratic congressman is publicly refusing to back his party’s leading U.S. Senate candidate in Maine, warning voters to reject Graham Platner over a tattoo critics say resembles a Nazi-era symbol.

Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., told CNN on Monday he considers Platner’s tattoo and his explanations about it disqualifying.

“I’ve been clear about Graham Platner. I find that tattoo and his commentary about it to be personally disqualifying,” Auchincloss, who is Jewish, told CNN’s Boris Sanchez.

“I hope Maine voters agree with me,” he added. “I think it would be a mistake for the Democratic Party to think that Graham Platner’s brand of the Democratic Party is what wins us durable majorities throughout this country.”

Platner has said he covered up the chest tattoo after facing backlash that it resembled a Totenkopf, a symbol adopted by Adolf Hitler’s troops in Nazi Germany. He argued last October that he did not know about the historical link until it was raised by “reporters and D.C. insiders.”

“I absolutely would not have gone through life having this on my chest if I knew that — and to insinuate that I did is disgusting. I am already planning to get this removed,” Platner said at the time.

Platner has also drawn scrutiny over years-old posts tied to a deleted Reddit account he has acknowledged owning. Critics have highlighted posts in which he called himself a “communist” and referred to police officers as “bastards.”

Platner told “Pod Save America” last fall the posts were designed to “get a rise out of people” and did not reflect his true beliefs at the time.

The U.S. Army veteran-turned-oyster farmer is widely expected to win Maine’s Democratic primary on June 9, setting up a general election matchup with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in a race that could matter for Senate control.

Auchincloss indicated he is not willing to fall in line simply because Democrats want to flip the seat.

When asked whether he could support Graham Platner to defeat Collins, Auchincloss said “values and principles always come before party.”

“We saw Republicans forget that lesson with Donald Trump in 2016 and how much damage it’s done to the country,” he said. “I will never forget that lesson.”

Auchincloss’ remarks triggered immediate blowback from some Democrats. Saikat Chakrabarti, a Democratic candidate for California’s 11th Congressional District and former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., accused the Massachusetts lawmaker of effectively helping Collins.

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“Jake Auchincloss is essentially endorsing Susan Collins in Maine,” Chakrabarti wrote in a social media post Monday. “Absolutely no excuse for a Democrat in the House to back a Republican for Senate in a crucial swing seat.

“Auchincloss should be primaried,” Chakrabarti added.

Auchincloss said he remains a “proud Democrat,” and pointed to his support for Democrats’ Senate candidate in Texas, state Rep. James Talarico, as an example of the kind of nominee he believes can grow the party’s coalition.

“He’s a fellow majority Democrat, which is a group of elected officials at the vanguard of reinventing this party,” Auchincloss said.

Talarico won the state’s Democratic primary on March 3 over Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, and is awaiting the winner of the Republican runoff between Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is backed by President Trump.

Auchincloss told CNN he believes Democrats can win in Texas and said, “We’re going to see Talarico win, whether it’s Paxton or Cornyn.”

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