Graham Platner shrugs off scandals to win Maine Democratic Senate primary

Graham Platner speaks at a campaign event on 5 June 2026, in Bar Harbor, Maine. Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP View image in fullscreen Graham Platner speaks at a campaign event on 5 June 2026, in Bar Harbor, Maine. Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP Graham Platner shrugs off scandals to win Maine Democratic Senate primary Platner, whose campaign was hit by series of negative headlines, to face Susan Collins in key midterm contest Graham Platner , a Marine veteran, oyster farmer and progressive activist, has scaled a mountain of personal controversies to win the Democratic nomination for the US Senate in Maine. Platner won 72% of the vote, defeating the state governor, Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign in April but remained on the ballot, and third placed David Costello, based on early results reported by Reuters. His victory on Tuesday caps a remarkable rise for a candidate who has never held elected office and whose campaign was shadowed by negative headlines that might have ended a more conventional political career. Instead, in a result that would have seemed improbable only a year ago, Platner emerged battered but unbroken, convincing Democratic voters that his flaws were forgivable or unimportant in a year dominated by economic anxiety and anger at Donald Trump. “If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics and our country then you must also believe that people can change,” Platner, 41, told supporters in Blue Hill. “And the reason I believe is that is because I have lived it. And the reason I have lived it is because of my wife.” The outcome sets up one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 midterm elections. Platner will face the senator Susan Collins , a Republican running for a sixth six-year term, in November. The race is seen as a must-win for Democrats to take control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority. Platner said: “The truth is, Susan Collins doesn’t serve us. She serves Donald Trump. She serves the Epstein class. She serves her corporate donors in the corrupt political system that has rigged the economy against us. She does not serve us and so we will defeat Susan Collins.” There were cries of “Yes!” from his supporters. The primary-night watch party was held in a YMCA gym. A blue banner with a US flag, Maine state flag and the slogan “Graham Platner for US Senate” was erected behind a stage against a blue curtain backdrop. Guests were invited to hold signs that included “Families for Graham”, “Farmers and Fishers for Graham” and “Labor for Graham”. For months Platner’s candidacy resembled a political stress test and prompted soul searching in the Democratic party about moral hypocrisy, policy imperatives versus private misconduct and whether the party should emulate Republicans by putting need to win above other concerns. Reports emerged that Platner had exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married. Former partners described him as volatile and unfaithful . On