Local pols split on Platner as Massachusetts eyes Maine race

Massachusetts Democrats have staked out sharply different positions on Graham Platner, the insurgent populist who won a highly contested Democratic primary to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine.

Why it matters: Platner's radical candidacy is drawing enthusiastic backers and fierce critics from the capital of New England.

Massachusetts can have an outsized role in the ideological direction of New England Democratic politics.

The Platner debate exposed a fault line between progressives and the party's more moderate flank here at home.

State of play: Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey both endorsed Platner during the primary, defying the Democratic establishment's preference for Maine Gov. Janet Mills.

Warren stood by her endorsement even after Platner faced allegations of sending explicit messages to women after he was married.

Markey has continued to praise Platner's takes on kitchen-table economic issues like health care costs, food prices and Trump-era trade policy, but his campaign wouldn't respond to Axios' request for an update on his support.

What they're saying: Democratic political consultant Mary Anne Marsh boils down why the established left is having a hard time accepting Platner after several revelations about his background and worries about his character.

"Of all the sins you can commit in politics, it seems to be acceptable in this time of Trump that if you abuse people or have other incidents with them, you will be forgiven," Marsh told Axios.

Between the lines: Gov. Maura Healey has walked the narrowest of lines.

She officially backed Mills, but said she would support Platner in November — while adding she found his conduct deeply troubling.

A spokesperson said Healey views unseating Collins as the overriding priority.

The intrigue: Unseating Collins is the line taken by Markey's primary challenger Rep. Seth Moulton, but he's not specifying if he actually supports Platner.

"We need to be a big tent party to win. Voters want an aggressive, positive agenda they can believe in, and will elect people they trust to deliver on that agenda."

Another Democrat with a primary challenger, Rep. Stephen Lynch, was more direct, telling Axios Platner "is the Democratic nominee and I believe he will stand up to the Trump White House unlike Senator Collins — so I am with him."

Lynch's challenger Patrick Roath said he also backs Platner.

Of note: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's political operation told Axios she doesn't have anything to share about Platner or his candidacy.

The other side: Rep. Jake Auchincloss has been among Platner's sharpest critics in Massachusetts, calling a now-covered, Nazi-linked tattoo Platner received while deployed personally disqualifying.

Auchincloss, about as moderate as Massachusetts Congressional Democrats get, warns that Platner's brand of politics risks alienating the broader electorate in Maine.

Moulton took a softer line on the tattoo business, saying Platner's willingness to own his mistake was something he respected.

The bottom line: The Massachusetts Democratic establishment's fractured response to Platner mirrors the national party's ongoing debate between prioritizing ideological alignment and electability heading into the high-stakes November midterms.