An ex-soldier turned oyster farmer, new figure of an American left in search of authenticity

A gruff oyster farmer, who only recently got rid of a Nazi tattoo, has become the unexpected face of Democrats' bid to wrest the Senate from Donald Trump's Republicans and win back working-class voters.

Six months before the mid-term elections, which will renew part of the American Congress, the Democrats hope to regain control of the House of Representatives. But the Senate represents a much greater challenge.

In this confrontation, Graham Platner could play a decisive role: this 41-year-old former Marine soldier, who speaks with emotion of his opposition to the war after having served in Afghanistan and Iraq, covets a key seat in the Senate in Maine.

He will be opposed to Susan Collins, outgoing Republican senator, elected for a long time and considered vulnerable.

Still unknown a year ago, Graham Platner crisscrossed this northeastern state, carrying a combative and anti-establishment message.

The revelations concerning a skull tattoo, resembling a Nazi symbol, as well as a series of old messages on social networks in which he made remarks considered problematic on sexual assault or homosexuals, did not get the better of his candidacy.

On the contrary: by withdrawing Thursday from the race for the Democratic nomination, current governor Janet Mills, her main rival in the primary, left her the field open to try to unseat Susan Collins in November.

- Calloused hands -

For Andrew Koneschusky, director of the public relations agency Beltway Advisors, the oyster farmer's success reflects voters' desire for more "authenticity." “They no longer want robot candidates, formatted by polls,” he emphasizes.

For years, a number of democratic activists have been calling for ordinary candidates, no longer from the best universities but rather from the working class, capable of reaching electorates won over by Donald Trump, such as non-graduate white men.

With his military background, callused hands and outspokenness, Graham Platner seems to tick the boxes.

But the controversies that punctuated his campaign illustrate the risks of presenting candidates without political experience.

The oyster farmer defended himself by attributing his tattoo to a youthful mistake during his years with the Marines and his messages on social networks to a difficult period after his return from his mission.

Several major Democratic figures, such as Chuck Schumer, their leader in the Senate, had thus made the choice of security by supporting Janet Mills.

The polls proved them wrong: at 78 years old, the governor embodies the old guard of the party and voters want to turn the page.

“Voters don't like it when establishment figures endorse a candidate,” observes Andrew Koneschusky.

- Not in the boxes -

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