Graham Platner, a Marine veteran and oyster farmer, has won the Democratic nomination for the US Senate in Maine, securing 72% of the vote against Governor Janet Mills and David Costello. The victory sets up a high-stakes general election contest against Republican incumbent Susan Collins in November.
Platner's campaign was overshadowed by multiple controversies, including reports of sexually explicit messages exchanged while married, allegations of past physical abuse from an ex-girlfriend, a Nazi tattoo he later covered, and old Reddit posts containing homophobic slurs. Despite these issues, Platner convinced Democratic voters of his personal redemption, citing untreated PTSD and alcohol abuse after military service.
In his victory speech, Platner said: 'If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics and our country then you must also believe that people can change.' He framed the general election as a battle against corporate interests and Donald Trump's influence, promising to serve ordinary Mainers.
Platner will face Susan Collins, a Republican seeking a sixth term, in a race seen as crucial for Democrats to regain control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority. The contest is expected to be one of the most closely watched in the 2026 midterm elections.
