Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins feels that voters in her New England state will find Graham Platner, her likely Democratic opponent in the midterm elections in November, to be too radical.
However, Platner contends that Collins, who is moderate, is the “radical” one, advancing an economically populist agenda while criticizing corporate power and standing up for the working class.
In left-leaning Maine, Platner hopes to unseat the longtime Republican senator with the help of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Rep. Ro Khanna of California.
The oyster farmer has been forced to defend himself recently due to growing controversy and unfavorable headlines.
The race is one of a few that could decide whether the GOP maintains its narrow Senate majority in the midterm elections.
Collins has commented on Platner’s agenda, but she has largely remained silent about his political baggage.
Among his many progressive policy stances, Platner, on his campaign website, urges “passing a constitutional amendment to ban billionaires buying elections!”
And he highlights that he’s “a strong supporter of a Medicare for All system” and that he “will support a path to citizenship and an end to the mass deportation machine.”
Asked if Platner is too far to the left for voters in her northern New England state, Collins responded in a Fox News interview, “I believe that will be the conclusion of Maine voters. But, obviously, I don’t take anything for granted.”
Democrats see Maine as a crucial pickup opportunity in the 2026 midterms as they aim to win back the Senate majority in the fall.
Numerous controversies have also embroiled Platner.
Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer and Marine veteran, is facing a firestorm of allegations.
Platner has been dogged by revelations involving explicit texts to other women during his marriage, a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, inflammatory old Reddit posts, and accusations from ex-girlfriends of demeaning and physically threatening conduct.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, whom he married in 2023, discovered sexually explicit text messages between her husband and several other women early in their marriage.
She flagged the messages to his Senate campaign last year to get ahead of any potential scandal.
Platner has acknowledged sending the messages but faces ongoing scrutiny over the timing and extent of the communications, which reportedly involved as many as a dozen women.
A New York Times investigation detailed accounts from multiple ex-partners who described Platner’s behavior as “unsettling,” “reckless,” and “toxic.”
One former girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, alleged that during an argument years ago, Platner twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom, and held the door shut while telling her to “calm down.”
Other women recalled him being demeaning toward women, heavy drinking, and emotionally volatile relationships.
Platner has denied any physical violence, calling himself a “bad boyfriend” in the past while attributing issues to PTSD from his service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Further controversy surrounds a tattoo Platner got in 2007 during a night of drinking in Croatia.
It featured imagery resembling the Nazi Totenkopf skull, which he later covered up.
While Platner claims he was unaware of its Nazi associations until recently, some ex-girlfriends and former campaign aides insist he knew.
Old Reddit posts under the username “P-Hustle,” many now deleted, have also resurfaced.
In them, Platner allegedly downplayed sexual assault, suggesting victims “take some responsibility” by avoiding alcohol and “act like an adult.”
He reportedly called Maine voters he hopes to represent “racist” and “stupid,” used slurs, criticized police, and made other crude remarks.
Platner has blamed the posts on his post-service struggles with depression and self-medication.
