The Democratic Party just shot cancel culture in the foot. Its weapon of choice: Graham Platner.

The controversial Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine comes with baggage that would have sunk many pols. But he’s a Democrat up against a Republican. And that is all that counts.

Revelations about Platner, 41, include dismissive online remarks about rape, derogatory comments about women, and his infamous tattoo resembling the Nazi Totenkopf (death’s head) symbol, which he covered up.

How many pols could take that many strikes to their reputation and still be in the game?

But Platner has some big Democratic guns in his corner, having been endorsed by Senator Elizabeth Warren (Platner’s “the real deal”), Sen. Ed Markey, Governor Maura Healey and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (Platner’s “not a saint.”)

They seem all in on Platner’s credibility cleanse: Maine voters, he said, shouldn’t judge him “for the worst thing I said on the internet, on my worst day 14 years ago, but who I am today and the kind of senator I promise to be.”

We bet Al Franken wishes he’d thought of that line. The former Democratic senator from Minnesota resigned in 2018 after allegations of sexual misconduct and a 2006 photo showing him inappropriately touching a woman.

The New York Times spoke with three women who had been romantically involved with Platner who described volatile and “toxic” relationships that were unsettling and at times emotionally wrenching.

Platner could be charming and charismatic, they recalled in interviews, but also demeaning to women and, in at least one case, even physically threatening, the Times reported. Platner denies such allegations.

But that’s all fine with today’s Democrats. Well, if not fine, at least ignorable.

Democratic California Rep. Ro Khanna told “Face the Nation” that what the Times reported “happened in a dark period of his life.”

When Platner won the Democratic primary in Maine Tuesday, Khanna said voters gave Platner a “chance at redemption,” according to The Hill.

“He talked about Maine giving him grace, Maine giving him a second chance, he talked about the need to earn people’s votes,” Khanna said on CNN after Platner’s victory speech.

This is all well and good, if such political grace extends to both sides of the aisle, and reputational mudslinging is retired from campaigns. But does anyone believe that will happen?

Democrats have, in effect, shot themselves in the foot. The next time a Republican’s past actions come under fire, they can’t protest the chorus of “what about Platner?” that will inevitably follow.

They also did no favors for their own credibility. What does “the real deal” look like when it comes with a side of disturbing allegations? And is anyone taking back their criticism of Pete Hegseth’s tattoo?

New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was a bit more honest in her comments on Platner.

“Obviously, there’s a lot in that behavior that’s really challenging — it’s hard to stomach,” she told CNN’s Manu Raju outside of the Capitol on Tuesday.

“But at the end of the day, I think it’s a choice,” she added.

The Democratic Party, as Khanna might say, is going through a dark period.

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