Graham Platner is doing something most politicians won’t: he’s being honest about his past mistakes, and voters seem to be here for it. The 41-year-old oyster farmer and first-time Democratic candidate running for U.S. Senate in Maine has turned what could be a major liability into a strength by embracing transparency in an unconventional way, including literally making his controversial tattoo the subject of a trivia game at campaign events.

Yes, you read that right. At a recent trivia night in Kittery, Maine, participants were asked about the nature of the skull-and-crossbones tattoo Platner got while in the Marines. He’s acknowledged it resembled a Nazi symbol (totenkopf) and has since covered it with a different design. Instead of dodging the question, his campaign is leaning into it, framing his willingness to acknowledge past mistakes as a sign of genuine redemption.

“Graham Platner’s campaign gave me a place to put my energy in a positive way”, said Beth Knight, a 63-year-old teacher who attended the trivia night. “I believe he has a true redemption story”.

Platner’s campaign strategy is refreshingly different from the typical political playbook. Beyond trivia nights, he’s hosting happy hours at breweries, organizing poster-making sessions, and holding town halls across Maine. From his August campaign announcement through March, Platner had hosted 50 town halls throughout the state. Meanwhile, his opponent Governor Janet Mills and Republican Senator Susan Collins reportedly held none.

This grassroots approach is resonating with voters tired of politics-as-usual. Platner is running an anti-establishment campaign centered on affordability issues like housing and healthcare, positioning billionaires and the oligarchy as the real enemies. His campaign has significantly outspent Mills on advertising, $4.8 million compared to her $1.5 million, and he’s filling theaters and community centers across the state.

But there’s real political risk here. Platner does have a troubled past beyond the tattoo. Old social media posts that were dismissive of sexual assault have resurfaced, and he’s faced questions about appearing on a podcast hosted by someone accused of antisemitism. Mills has already started running attack ads featuring women reading some of his old problematic posts.

Historically, Maine Democratic voters have favored established candidates, and Mills has the backing of Senate leadership including Chuck Schumer. At 78, Mills has also benefited from Maine’s older voting population, which traditionally elects moderate politicians with proven track records.

Bowdoin College professor Michael Franz describes Platner as “a high-risk, high-reward type of candidate”. He could either become a breakout national figure or simply be the candidate everyone thought could win but ended up with 42 percent of the vote.

The June 9 primary will reveal whether voters in Maine are truly ready to embrace an outsider with a complicated past who’s betting that authenticity and community engagement trump establishment credentials and polish.