Graham Platner, candidate for the U.S. Senate from the Democratic party, acknowledges applause at a campaign gathering on Friday, June 5, 2026, in Bar Harbor, Maine. Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty
On Tuesday, Maine’s electorate will determine if oyster cultivator Graham Platner secures the Democratic Party’s nomination to contend against the long-serving Republican Senator Susan Collins this November.
Maine Governor Janet Mills is also listed on Tuesday’s Democratic Senate primary ballot, alongside former Maryland state official David Costello. However, Mills withdrew from the race in late April citing financial constraints, and a recent University of New Hampshire poll indicated that Costello “is largely unknown.”
Platner has faced scrutiny throughout his campaign, including an incident where he received a tattoo alleged to resemble a Nazi symbol, and accusations reported by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal claiming he dispatched sexually explicit messages to women.
Furthermore, last Thursday, the Times reported that some of the Army veteran’s previous romantic partners stated his conduct could be perceived as “intimidating and disturbing.”
Platner did not dispute the accusations of sending explicit texts, remarking that his wife “went through something hard — because of me.”
In a declaration following the Times’ story’s publication last Thursday, Platner stated, “Throughout this campaign, I’ve been open about what was a very dark period of my life where I struggled with undiagnosed PTSD, too often self medicated with alcohol, and was a far from perfect boyfriend.” He added, “I take responsibility for all of that, and wish I had been better. Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated.”
Previously, Platner addressed the controversial tattoo by asserting at the time that it emerged “because the establishment is trying to throw everything it can at me. It is terrified of what we are trying to build here.”
During a rally in Bar Harbor, Maine, on Friday—one day after the Times’ most recent report—Platner commented that “every single piece” of his history and journey is being “dug up, litigated and weaponized.”
In response to the Times’ latest report, Platner also informed ABC affiliate WMTW, “I’m very happy to talk about incredibly uncomfortable things in my life, but when things come along that are just made up or lies, I’m very much going to push back against those.”
Throughout the election cycle, polls have indicated that a majority of likely primary voters view Platner favorably. The University of New Hampshire poll, released shortly before the most recent reports concerning Platner, found that 76% of likely voters intended to rank Platner, a progressive candidate focused on wealth inequality, first on their ballots, which utilize ranked-choice voting.
Considering Maine’s ranked-choice voting system and the fact that local municipalities, rather than the state government, are responsible for tallying votes on election night, the timeframe for finalizing each race remains uncertain.
Voter Perspectives
Tyler Stoddard, a voter from Portland, Maine, expressed support for Platner to ABC News, explaining that he believes individuals are focusing excessively on personal issues.
“I think that he’s going to break the Republican majority in the Senate, and I think that will help stop Donald Trump,” Stoddard stated.
Janet Marstine, a resident of Yarmouth, Maine, informed ABC News that she cast her ballot early for Mills.
“I don’t trust the frontrunner in the Democratic Party. He has too many secrets, and we don’t even know the depth of them,” Marstine commented, adding that Mills “knows Maine more than any other leader, really, in this state.”
Affordability in ‘Vacationland’ a Key Concern
The Senate contest is far from the sole race on Maine’s largely ranked-choice ballot this Tuesday.
In a state that promotes itself as “Vacationland” on its license plates, affordability is a primary concern, with numerous candidates incorporating this issue into their campaign materials.
The gubernatorial primaries, as well as the Democratic primary in the 2nd Congressional District, are anticipated to be notably competitive.
Signs promoting candidates for Maine’s gubernatorial primary and the Second Congressional District representative race are displayed in downtown Bangor, Maine, on June 6, 2026.ABC News
Incumbent Democratic Representative Jared Golden is not seeking re-election in the expansive 2nd Congressional District.
With control of the House of Representatives at stake this November, Democrats such as Joe Baldacci, Matt Dunlap, and Jordan Wood aim to retain the seat for their party, while former Republican Governor Paul LePage is working to reclaim it for the GOP.
Baldacci has secured the endorsement of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, whereas Dunlap has allied himself with Platner. Before Katie Porter’s unsuccessful bid for Governor of California, Wood served as her congressional chief of staff.
In the race for governor, the Democratic contenders include former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, former Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Nirav Shah, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and former Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree. Jackson, Bellows, and Pingree had previously announced their intention to rank each other on their ballots.
Among the candidates vying for the Republican nomination are former Naval Intelligence Officer Bobby Charles, businessman Ben Midgley, former Maine Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason, and former Athenahealth CEO Jonathan Bush, who is a cousin of former President George W. Bush.
In Maine, voters not affiliated with either major party have the option to select and vote in the primary of one party when they go to the polls.
Early voting in Maine concluded last Thursday. Voters who did not participate in early voting have until 8 p.m. on Tuesday to cast their ballots.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com