Graham Platner Wins Maine Democratic Senate Primary, Sets November Race Against Susan Collins

Graham Platner won the Maine Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday, setting up a November race against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, with ABC News projecting Platner as Maine’s Democratic Senate nominee.

“Maine primary election results: Platner will win Democratic Senate primary, ABC News projects He'll face incumbent Republican Sen”

ABC News

NBC News reported that Republican Sen. Susan Collins ran unopposed in the Republican Senate primary, while Democrat Graham Platner took control of the Democratic primary months earlier after Maine Gov. Janet Mills opted to suspend her campaign.

ABC News

The Bangor Daily News and Decision Desk HQ called the Democratic race at 9:07 p.m. Tuesday when Platner had 77.7% of votes to 16.7% for Gov. Janet Mills.

With an estimated 100% of votes recorded Wednesday, the Bangor Daily News said Platner maintained a 72.3% to 19.4% advantage over Mills, with David Costello garnering 8.3% of the votes.

The AP described the results as never in question, noting that neither Collins nor Platner faced serious opposition for their party’s nomination.

The campaign remained dominated by controversy as Platner faced allegations including a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol and reports about sexually explicit messages, with the AP saying the embattled veteran was fighting to rebuild his credibility in a campaign rocked by controversy.

In a rally in Bar Harbor, Maine, last Friday, Platner told supporters that "every single piece" of his past and journey was being "dug up, litigated and weaponized."

AP News

The AP quoted Platner acknowledging repair work, saying, "people can change," and later adding, "Any of those who feel let down or disappointed or disillusioned, it is my job to earn your trust, faith and support," after his primary win.

The BBC described how Platner appeared visibly moved at an event at Elks Lodge #188 on Sunday night, where a supporter read a card signed by dozens of attendees and said, "We are your Graham-ily,"

The BBC also quoted Platner telling the crowd, "This is a pretty hard thing to go through, to be entirely honest," and said the only thing that made it bearable was "going around the state of Maine and having as much support as we've gotten."

CNN projected that Platner’s Democratic nomination in Maine would set up a showdown against five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins, describing the race as critical to Democrats’ chances of flipping four GOP-held seats and winning a majority.

“Graham Platner decisively won the Democratic primary Tuesday to take on Republican U”

Bangor Daily News

CNN also reported that Collins’ campaign took aim at Platner hours after the projected Democratic nominee described her as “spineless and corrupt” and slammed her for siding with President Donald Trump.

In Tuesday’s statement, Collins’ spokesperson said the senator continues to “earn the support of Republicans, Democrats, and independents across Maine,” and listed funding rural hospitals, supporting shipbuilders and fishermen, improving infrastructure, expanding broadband, and strengthening public safety.

The Times of Israel reported that Platner is an anti-Israel progressive and said the result sets Platner up to face off in November against Susan Collins, noting that top Democrats will have to decide how hard to campaign for him.

The Times of Israel also quoted the Republican Jewish Coalition saying after the polls closed that "Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in America, and every Senate Democrat propping up Platner’s campaign, should be ashamed."