Maine Democrat Graham Platner wins Senate primary, setting up key contest with Collins
Platner’s victory establishes a high-stakes race for a seat Democrats view as critical to gaining Senate control, while Collins highlights her legislative experience and appropriations power.
Graham Platner, a United States Army veteran and oyster farmer, has won the Maine Democratic primary for the US Senate, securing a general election contest against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. The victory, confirmed on Tuesday, establishes a pivotal race that Democrats view as a top opportunity to flip a Republican-held seat and potentially gain control of the Senate in November.
Platner’s path to the nomination followed days of intense scrutiny regarding his past personal conduct. His campaign has faced allegations of physical intimidation, sexually explicit messages exchanged with women while he was married, and old online posts that appeared to endorse political violence or make remarks dismissive of military sexual assault. Platner has attributed these actions to a period of acute mental health struggles, including PTSD and depression following two combat deployments, and has apologised for posts containing homophobic slurs and insults directed at rural communities and law enforcement. Further scrutiny arose from a tattoo later identified as a Nazi symbol, which Platner stated he had covered and claimed he was unaware of its significance.
In his acceptance speech in Blue Hill, the rural town where he was born, Platner acknowledged voter concerns and pledged to earn their trust, faith, and support. He framed his campaign around a message of redemption, stating, “If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change.” The 41-year-old candidate has focused his platform on the rising cost of living, housing affordability, and healthcare, while securing early endorsements from progressive figures including Senator Bernie Sanders.
Platner’s victory sets up a direct challenge to Collins, who was unopposed in the Republican primary. First elected in 1996, Collins is the last Republican senator from New England and chairs the powerful Committee on Appropriations. In his speech, Platner accused Collins of rubber-stamping conservative Supreme Court justices and supporting “endless wars,” addressing her directly by saying, “You and your friends profited, and my friends died.”
Collins’ campaign has countered by highlighting her legislative experience and her role as chair of the Committee on Appropriations. Spokesperson Shawn Roderick emphasised Collins’ focus on practical outcomes for Maine, including funding rural hospitals, supporting shipbuilders and fishermen, and improving infrastructure. “Maine people are practical. They care about whether their communities are stronger and their families are better off,” Roderick said. Governor Janet Mills, who withdrew from the gubernatorial race citing fundraising difficulties, has not yet endorsed Platner.
Elsewhere in Maine, ranked-choice tabulations are required to determine the outcomes of the Democratic gubernatorial primary and the 2nd Congressional District race, where no candidate secured an outright majority. The eventual Democratic nominee in the 2nd District will face former Governor Paul LePage, a close ally of Donald Trump. Maine backed Democrat Kamala Harris over Trump in the 2024 presidential race, underscoring the state’s significance in the broader political landscape.
