What to know about Graham Platner, Susan Collins’ likely Democratic opponent
Graham Platner, a progressive oyster farmer from Sullivan, Maine, is poised to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the November Senate race after Gov. Janet Mills withdrew from the Democratic nomination. Platner has run a campaign focused on economic populism, advocating for universal healthcare and union protections.
Gov. Janet Mills has withdrawn from Maine's Senate race, clearing the path for Graham Platner to win the Democratic nomination. Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer from Sullivan, has run a campaign focused on economic populism, advocating for universal healthcare, union protections, and a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. His campaign was rocked by controversy in October over Reddit posts about rape, race, and the military, as well as a tattoo of a Nazi symbol. Platner has disavowed many of his past statements, citing post-traumatic stress from his time serving in the military as a Marine in Iraq and as a security contractor in Afghanistan. Platner has led every poll in a hypothetical matchup with Collins, who is seeking a historic sixth term as a Maine senator. An influential Republican group has criticized Platner's campaign, but he continues to run with a massive campaign effort.
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