Why Ro Khanna Is Standing By Graham Platner

Ro Khanna has attached himself to risky political causes before. Few carry as much political consequence as the Maine Senate race.

Khanna has aligned himself with Graham Platner, the insurgent Democratic candidate, even as the oyster farmer has faced a series of scandals in the lead-up to today’s primary.

The latest revelation landed one day before Khanna was featured at his campaign rally in Maine late last week: a New York Times story that detailed Platner’s toxic behavior toward ex-girlfriends, with one alleging that Platner has long known he had a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol, which he has fiercely denied.

Khanna’s appearance was an exercise in tightrope walking, simultaneously condemning Platner’s behavior while espousing faith in the former Marine’s redemption from troubled times in his past.

He urged Platner’s audience not to attack the women who came forward with their stories, a notable difference from the candidate himself, who said the worst of the accusations came from a politically-motivated ex aligned with Republican causes.

But he also framed his continued support for Platner as a display of determination, an implicit knock at those in his party who have openly fretted about whether Platner’s rough-edged persona is an asset or a liability in their long-frustrated quest to oust GOP Sen. Susan Collins and notch a must-win seat in the battle to control the Senate.

“We all say Democrats should fight harder, but what does it mean to fight harder? To me, it means you show up when an ally who challenges power is under attack,” Khanna said at the event.

The rally sealed Khanna’s place as one of Platner’s most visible supporters. (He’s not alone, however; Sens. Bernie Sanders, Ruben Gallego and Elizabeth Warren provided key endorsements.)

That support has extended behind the scenes as well. Platner was a guest at a big Khanna finance event last month in Palo Alto, according to a prominent Silicon Valley bundler who was granted anonymity to candidly discuss the campaign. Platner was a hit among the donors, the bundler said, winning people over with his personal story and acknowledging his faults.

Khanna is “doing more standing by him than anyone else,” said the bundler, who is close to Khanna. “He is enjoying being forward with his support in a time of need.”

But other Democrats see the unsavory stories about Platner as deeply worrying and, for some, outright offensive. Marc Adelman, a Los Angeles-based media strategist who has worked for many years in Democratic politics, called out Khanna for choosing to stick with Platner despite reports of misogynistic behavior and the Nazi-adjacent tattoo on Platner’s chest.

“I see somebody like Ro Khanna who seems to be making his bona fides around victims of Jeffrey Epstein and doesn’t pause and think, ‘hmm, maybe I shouldn’t go up to Maine 12 hours after some pretty damning accusations are in a very respectable newspaper,’” Adelman said. “That to me really jumps out. The guy who will not get off TV talking about victims and then literally shuttles himself up to Maine to stand with somebody who is being accused of some pretty bad things.”

On CBS’ "Face the Nation" this Sunday, Khanna directly addressed the incongruence of a person pushing for the release of the Epstein files now supporting a candidate under fire for his treatment of women.

“If there was any evidence that comes out that there is actual domestic violence or assault, I have zero tolerance for that. I led the fight against the Epstein class, which has been a cover-up for sexual abuse, with Thomas Massie. I’ve been at the forefront of championing women’s rights and rights of survivors,” Khanna said, “but here you have a case of someone who had a dark chapter in his life, was in toxic relationships, was ashamed about it, who served this country. And the Maine voters are saying, ‘Look, let’s give him some grace.’ And his focus is stopping these wars, and it’s getting national health insurance, and it’s taking on economic inequality.”

The sentiments of Maine voters in November matter immensely to Khanna, too. If Platner ends up unseating Collins, it would be a vindication of Khanna’s long-held vision of anti-establishment populism and a boost to his likely 2028 bid. (Another boost that POLITICO’s Adam Wren scooped: Khanna is now being advised by Ron Klain, former chief of staff to Joe Biden, in advance of his anticipated presidential run.)

But if Platner falls short — or if more scandals come out damaging his credibility as a candidate — it will almost certainly raise questions about Khanna's political judgment as he eyes a larger national role. By going all in on Platner, Khanna is putting up his own ambitions as collateral.

Dustin Gardiner contributed to this report.

This reporting first appeared in California Playbook. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every weekday.