News

Maine Oysterman, Marine Veteran Running as Democrat Against Sen. Collins

Graham for Maine


A 40-year-old oysterman and Marine veteran is running as a Democrat seeking to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins next year.

Graham Platner is from the Hancock County town of Sullivan and is heavily involved in local government after serving three tours in Iraq as a Marine and one for the Army in Afghanistan.

Platner joins a small and not especially well know field of Democratic challengers, while national Democrats are trying to recruit Governor Janet Mills, who is term limited, to take on Sen. Collins.

Platner has never run for office before.

In his announcement video, he called for universal health care, said “the enemy is the oligarchy,” and asked, “Why are we funding endless wars and bombing children?”

In the video, he also said, “The difference between Susan Collins and Ted Cruz is at least Ted Cruz is honest about selling us out and not giving a damn.”

Platner told ABC News he has friends, who all voted for Donald Trump because they wanted something new and wanted change. He said his understanding of those voters could help steer the Democratic Party, which he described as “quite confused.”

He told ABC he admires the former Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and respects Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

Platner told POLITICO he would have supported Sen. Sanders’ recent resolution to block arms sales to Israel.

The Bangor Daily News reports Jordan Wood, a Bristol resident who previously worked in Democratic politics on Capitol Hill, is the best-funded and most active Democrat running so far

Latest Headlines

6 hours ago in Local

Overnight Sunday Fire Damages Windham Home

No injuries were reported by firefighters.

7 hours ago in Local

New York Man Shot, Killed by Police in Skowhegan

The Office of the Maine Attorney General will investigate the shooting.

2 days ago in Local

Augusta homicide under investigation

Maine State Police are investigating a homicide in Augusta.

2 days ago in Local

First case of measles in seven years confirmed in Maine

The Maine CDC has confirmed the first case of measles in the state since 2019.

3 days ago in Olympics, Sports, Trending

The Milan Cortina Olympics will start with a four-site and two-cauldron opening ceremony

An unprecedented four-site, dual-cauldron Winter Olympics opening ceremony replete with references to Italian icons and culture — plus American pop diva Mariah Carey — was scheduled to officially start the Milan Cortina Games on Friday as the sports spectacle returns to a nation that last hosted the event 20 years ago.