U.S. Army Veteran Wins Maine Senate Primary, Aims to Unseat Senator Collins

Graham Platner, a U.S. Army veteran and oyster farmer, won the Democratic primary in Maine for a Senate seat, opening a tense race against Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins.

Platner's victory on Tuesday came after days of questions about damaging revelations regarding his past personal conduct, particularly in relationships with women. In his acceptance speech, Platner acknowledged voter concerns and pledged to regain their “trust, confidence, and support” throughout the campaign.

Democrats view this race as a top opportunity to flip a Republican-held seat and a must-win if the party is to gain control of the Senate in November. Collins, first elected in 1996 and now chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee, is the last Republican senator from New England. Maine backed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris over Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Platner, 41, has focused his campaign on rising living costs, housing affordability, and healthcare. He has received early support from progressive figures, including Senator Bernie Sanders. However, Governor Janet Mills, who withdrew from the race citing fundraising challenges, has not yet endorsed him.

Controversies Overshadow Campaign

Platner's campaign has been clouded by a series of controversies, including reports of lewd messages sent to women while married and allegations from an ex-girlfriend of physical intimidation. Platner's campaign has rejected these allegations.

Past social media posts were also uncovered, in which he appeared to endorse political violence and made dismissive comments about sexual assaults in the military. Platner attributed these comments to a period of acute mental health crisis, including PTSD and depression following two combat deployments. He also apologized for posts containing homophobic language and insults aimed at rural communities and law enforcement.

A tattoo later identified as a Nazi symbol drew further scrutiny. Platner, who has since covered the tattoo, said he did not know its meaning. In his victory speech, Platner emphasized a message of redemption as he promised to defeat Collins. “If you believe, as I once did, that we can change politics and the country, then you must also believe that people can change,” he told supporters in Blue Hill, the rural town where he was born. “And the reason I believe that is because I have lived it.”

He also criticized Collins, accusing her of confirming conservative Supreme Court justices and supporting so-called “endless wars.” A Marine Corps and Army veteran who served in two conflicts, Platner told Collins: “You and your friends profited, and my friends died.”

Collins, who faced no opponent in Maine's Republican primary, countered that her experience and key position as Appropriations Committee chair are reasons to send her back to the Senate. “While others talk about revolution and division, Susan Collins is delivering for Maine communities by funding rural hospitals, supporting shipbuilders and fishermen, improving infrastructure, expanding broadband, and increasing public safety,” said Collins spokesperson Shawn Roderick. “The people of Maine are very practical. They care about whether their communities are stronger and their families are better off. That is exactly what Susan Collins focuses on every day.”

In other parts of Maine, ranked-choice voting will be required to determine the results of the Democratic gubernatorial primary and the race in the 2nd Congressional District, where no candidate secured an outright majority. The eventual Democratic nominee in that district will face former Governor Paul LePage, a close Trump ally.