New York City Mayor Mamdani Says Time to Close Platner Campaign Chapter

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Thursday it was time to bring the chapter of Graham Platner’s campaign to a close. In an interview with NY1’s Errol Lewis, Mamdani focused on ending the episode rather than broader questions about the progressive movement. Mamdani stated he trusted Maine voters to point the way forward.

He had already called for Platner to drop out during a Tuesday news conference. Mamdani said his endorsements have been limited to New York City races. He backed Claire Valdez, Brad Lander and Darializa Avila Chevalier in those races, and all three won last month.

One of Mamdani’s top advisors, Morris Katz, helped launch Platner’s campaign before joining the mayor’s administration. Platner suspended his bid for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat on Wednesday in a video posted on social media.

He stated that for the movement to continue, it cannot be him at the center. Platner’s campaign faced multiple scandals. He had a tattoo of a Nazi symbol known as a Totenkopf on his chest. Lyndsey Fifield told The New York Times that Platner referred to his Totenkopf tattoo as “my Totenkopf” and taught her the name.

Jenny Racicot alleged in a Politico article published Monday that Platner raped her in 2021 after entering her home drunk. Platner denied the allegation. He also denied knowing what the Totenkopf symbol meant and had the tattoo covered up.

Following the Politico article, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ro Khanna and Sen. Ruben Gallego abandoned their support for Platner. The New York Times article containing allegations about Platner’s conduct was published last month.