Sununu Slams Pappas Over Nazi-Tat Platner Evasion
Michael Graham
NH Journal
May 5, 2026
Should a Nazi-tattooed, self-declared Communist who blamed female sexual assault victims for being raped be the next U.S. Senator from Maine?
Rep. Chris Pappas, who hopes to be the next U.S. senator from New Hampshire, still won’t say.
Since Maine Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of the Senate race, making controversial progressive Graham Platner the presumptive Democratic nominee, NHJournal has been asking Pappas if he will support the misogynistic Mainer for Senate. Pappas has been a “no comment.”
On Tuesday, New Hampshire radio host Chris Ryan asked Pappas the same question.
“In Maine, they’ve made clear that Graham Platner is the individual that they wanted. Do you align with Graham Platner?” Ryan asked Pappas. “Would you campaign with him? Do you support his candidacy in Maine?”
Pappas again declined to answer.
“Look, I’m campaigning in New Hampshire. I’m not campaigning in any other state, and so it’s up to the voters of Maine to decide their Senate race,” Pappas said. “Ultimately, if I get this job, it’s my job to represent the entire state, but not people of any other state.”
Republican John E. Sununu, who hopes to face off against Pappas in November, was less than impressed.
“Chris Pappas is talking like a typical politician. Does he support the socialist with the Nazi tattoo or not? Platner has said disgusting things that don’t represent New Hampshire values. I’ll be clear: He should never be a senator.”
Pappas has previously endorsed Democratic candidates in other states, and he has spoken out on national issues unrelated to Granite State politics.
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The National Republican Senatorial Committee also called out Pappas’ refusal to take a stand on Platner’s candidacy.
“Should be easy to condemn Graham Platner for his hatred of rural Americans, women, and minorities, but sadly that is a hard question for Chris Pappas to answer,” said NRSC Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell.
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