Politics

Democratic Operative Says Party Mistook Misogyny for Working Class Appeal in Plattner

Reality Check with Ross Coulthart · Will the Dems learn from the Graham Platner debacle? Debate with Michael Larosa | Prove it! · July 9, 2026

Reality Check with Ross Coulthart

Will the Dems learn from the Graham Platner debacle? Debate with Michael Larosa | Prove it!

"But to me, the thing that's the most offensive is they thought he was their ticket back to the working class and to men because he was like a raging misogynist and possibly a Nazi, because that is what they think the working class is because they are elites and don't know any working-class people. So they have this fantasy that they— the working class is a basket of deplorables. So they pick a deplorable elite and they're like, is this a— this surely will convince the working class. And meanwhile, working-class Mainers were 20 points less likely to say that Graham Plattner has a good character than the elites trying to foist him on them."

Batya Unger-Sargon argues that Democratic elites backed Graham Plattner, a Senate candidate with a Nazi tattoo and abuse allegations, because they believed his aggressive masculinity and offensive behavior would appeal to working-class voters. She contends this reveals how out of touch party elites are, noting that working-class Mainers were 20 points less likely than elites to view Plattner favorably. The analysis suggests Democrats fundamentally misunderstand the values of the working-class voters they claim to champion.

About this episode

Host Batya Unger-Sargon interviews Democratic operative Michael LaRosa about the collapse of Graham Plattner's Maine Senate campaign following rape allegations, exploring what the scandal reveals about Democratic Party dysfunction and elite disconnect from working-class voters. Plattner, a candidate with a Nazi tattoo, domestic abuse allegations, and a fabricated working-class biography, suspended his campaign after a credible rape accusation emerged. LaRosa, who opposed Plattner from the start despite backlash from fellow Democrats, argues the party's embrace of Plattner exemplifies how elites misunderstand working-class values, mistaking offensive behavior and aggressive masculinity for authentic populism. The conversation draws parallels to LaRosa's experience being blacklisted by CNN and smeared by the Biden White House in 2023 for publicly questioning the president's reelection strategy and campaign vigor. LaRosa reveals he lost friendships and professional opportunities for speaking candidly about polling and Biden's lackluster campaign activity. Both discuss how Democratic elites elevated Plattner, a wealthy blue blood who attended elite Hotchkiss prep school and lived off family money, as a working-class champion despite his oyster farm being a hobby operation that never earned substantial income. The episode examines how progressive consultants and DSA-aligned groups manufacture fake populist candidates while remaining in an ideological bubble reinforced by sympathetic left-wing media. LaRosa suggests the Plattner scandal has damaged Democratic prospects for retaking the Senate in 2026, particularly in Maine where Susan Collins has proven durability through substantial constituent service. The conversation also explores how Maine voters have historically split tickets and separated party from person, rewarding Collins even as they supported Biden. LaRosa argues that lessons from both the Biden 2024 campaign struggles and the Plattner disaster will likely go unlearned because Democratic politics operates as team sport where dissent from party messaging results in ostracism.

Key takeaways

Michael LaRosa claims the Biden White House blacklisted him from CNN and smeared him in British media for publicly questioning Biden's 2024 campaign strategy in 2023, before the debate collapse vindicated his concerns.
Democratic elites backed Graham Plattner despite Nazi tattoo and abuse allegations because they mistakenly believed his offensive behavior would appeal to working-class voters, revealing fundamental misunderstanding of working-class values.
Graham Plattner's working-class biography was fabricated; he attended elite Hotchkiss prep school, lived off family money including a recent $200,000 parental gift for a house, and ran an oyster farm as a hobby that earned minimal income.
LaRosa states Democratic chances of winning Senate majority in 2026 are no longer certain following Plattner scandal, with Maine prospects significantly diminished and national attention on controversial progressives providing Republican ammunition.
Maine voters historically split tickets and reward Susan Collins for constituent service, with Collins winning by 9 points in 2020 on same ballot Biden won by 9 points, suggesting Plattner faced uphill battle regardless of scandals.
Progressive consultants and DSA-aligned groups operate in ideological bubble reinforced by sympathetic left-wing media outlets like DropSite News, which blamed rape victim for her own assault to defend Plattner.
LaRosa predicts Democrats will not learn lessons from Plattner or Biden campaigns because party politics operates as team sport where speaking candidly results in being treated as pariah and losing professional relationships.