Graham Platner, since launching his bid for Senate in August, has garnered attention and support from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

Platner, a veteran and oyster farmer, is running to unseat longtime incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in the Pine Tree State. His platform calls for reforming campaign finance and immigration laws, breaking up monopolies, reigning in government surveillance, strengthening unions and ending “pointless wars” the U.S. is involved in.

First, he must outlast a crowded Democratic primary field headlined by Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who jumped into the race last week.

But in recent days, Platner has faced criticism around numerous offensive remarks he made on Reddit over the past decade-plus, as well as a tattoo that his detractors say echoes Nazi propaganda.

Here's what you need to know about the 41-year-old populist candidate.

Background

Platner was born in Blue Hill, Maine, and raised in the coastal towns of Ellsworth and Sullivan. He graduated from the private John Bapst Memorial High School in the town of Bangor in 2003, according to local outlet

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