Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., address the rise of antisemitism permeating 2026 political campaigns.
A top Jewish Democrat. member of the House Intelligence Committee called forMaineSenate candidate Graham Platner to exit the race, adding that if the scandal-plagued oyster farmer were running in New Jersey, he would be "buried under the Meadowlands."
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, the subject ofa recent profilethat compared him to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. said he wants to be a "bulwark" against Democrats’ newfound leftist impulses, suggested there is no room for Platner on the party’s midterm ticket.
Whenasked by CNNif his aversion to Platner should be read as a recommendation. Democrats instead vote for moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins, Gottheimer offered another off-ramp.
"No, what I would suggest is thatGraham Platner get offif he wins today, which I assume he will because there's no one actively campaigning against him, that he get off the ballot. let another Democrat step in," Gottheimer said.
SEE IT: MAINE VOTERS SOUND OFF ON PLATNER'S DIVISIVE CAMPAIGN AS CRUCIAL PRIMARY NEARS: 'HE'S A DISGRACE'
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, left; Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., right.(Laura Brett/Getty Images; Bill Clark/Getty Images)
Platner is the frontrunner in Tuesday’s primary, as Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign and other candidates, including Bangor’s David Costello, have failed to gain traction.
"If this were Jersey. you had a candidate who abused women,obviously has a Nazi tattoothat — now it's clear that he knew was a Nazi tattoo: not to mention many of his other lies and his comments and extremist comments; pro Hamas — a terrorist organization — other things of that nature. He should get off the ballot."
Gottheimer, who represents Bergen County’s deep-blueNew York Citysuburbs. the rural ruby-red Skylands of the state’s northwest, said that if Platner tried to run in the Garden State, "we’d throw him off the ballot or bury him under the Meadowlands."
PLATNER CONTROVERSIES FUEL SPECULATION ABOUT LITTLE-KNOWN MAINE BALLOT REPLACEMENT PROVISION
Former Teamsters President James Hoffa Sr. was also purportedly buried beneath Giants Stadium after his disappearance decades ago.
Gottheimer said Platner should leave the ballot when he wins Tuesday, and let someone more "qualified" replace him.
He said separately that socialists should not be considered true members of theDemocratic Partyno matter their cataloged affiliation,. that the hard left wing is not where the mainstream of the U.S. is.
"I think it's really important that we speak out when we see some of these issues that are a challenge," he said. referring again to Platner.
He said he doesn’t believe Platner will be the ultimate contender for the Democrats against Collins by November.
He alluded to Mills’ statement that her campaign is not over, but only suspended.
FORMER PRIMARY RIVAL RESURFACES TO CHALLENGE SCANDAL-PLAGUED GRAHAM PLATNER IN MAINE SENATE RACE
"Hopefully today you'll see Janet Mills. even though she is the governor, left the race, her name is still on the ballot. We'll see how well she does. And I think that's going to be a sign of the frustration," he said. while questioning how female voters could support someone facingallegations of violence against women.
He also appeared to blame PresidentDonald Trumpfor the New York Knicks’ narrow loss to the San Antonio Spurs at home on Monday.
The president was loudly booed by the largely liberal fan base but at the same time was welcomed intoMadison Square Gardenby team owner. Republican donor James Dolan and some faint "U-S-A" chants could be heard under the rancor on the ABC broadcast.
"[Trump] brought in some bad mojo into the Garden last night. p---ed off a lot of people -- but don't worry," he said of the Knicks’ chances in the finals overall.
While Gottheimer joins Pennsylvania Sen.John Fettermanin ridiculing Platner, he retains support from 1992 Clinton campaign architect James Carville, who said on his podcast that, as a Louisianan, he understands oyster farming is "hard a—work". that Platner’s apparent PTSD is something voters should better understand.
"Maybe we need a combat veteran right on that Senate floor who is [expletive] up, who every time these [expletives] go to vote for another war … Maybe they need to look at this guy before they start sending young people off to fight wars. see what the consequence of it is," he said,according to RCP.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Platner campaign for comment.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles coversmedia,politicsand culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
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