BRUNSWICK, Maine — As the fireplace crackled warmly in the background, Democratic Governor Janet Mills shared her strategy for defeating Susan Collins, drawing an eager audience in late January. The atmosphere, however, shifted when questions arose regarding her primary challenger, Graham Platner.
One attendee noted Platner’s impressive social media presence, while another highlighted his popularity among younger voters, prompting a query to Mills about her potential support should he clinch the party nomination.
“I am a Democrat,” Mills replied, deftly steering the conversation back to her initiatives as governor focused on making life more affordable for young Mainers.
However, discussions about Platner are seemingly unavoidable, as the political newcomer has made significant waves in the Maine Senate race. The 41-year-old oyster farmer and combat veteran stands apart from recent candidates with his boldness and progressive ideals, capturing crowds of hundreds, garnering national attention, and amassing millions in campaign contributions.
Platner’s rapid ascent signals a rising discontent with the Democratic establishment and a thirst for fresh leadership. His campaign, echoing the style of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has endorsed him, not only targets Collins but also takes aim at a “billionaire class.”
The stakes for Democrats in this primary could hardly be higher. While the Maine Democratic Party traditionally refrains from endorsing candidates during primaries, some prominent figures, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have thrown their support behind the moderate Mills, believing she represents the party’s best chance to defeat Collins and reclaim the Senate in 2026.
Platner’s challenge lies in his vision of disruptive progressivism set against the backdrop of Maine, the oldest state in the nation, which has a history of electing senators who are viewed as moderates within their parties. Mills fits this mold, while Platner aims to shatter it. His gamble hinges on whether voters are ready for his ambitious proposals, and early indicators suggest they might be.
“If you look at everyone from Bill Cohen to Angus King to George Mitchell to Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, there’s a strong, moderate streak there when it hits November,” remarked Adam Cote, a Maine lawyer and veteran who finished second to Mills in the 2018 Democratic primary. “In the primary, I don’t know.”
Although public polling has been sparse, an internal survey from Platner’s campaign indicated he is leading Mills by double digits. With 283,000 Instagram followers compared to Mills’ 61,000 and Collins’ 25,000, Platner also boasts a volunteer network of 15,000 strong. He raised $7.8 million by the end of December, far exceeding Mills’ $2.7 million, allowing him to initiate TV ads well ahead of the June primary.
“My wife jokes that I’ve been ranting about structural inequality and American history for years, but nobody cared because I was just a random guy from Sullivan, Maine,” Platner recounted in an interview. “Now, I’m running for the U.S. Senate and engaging in this dialogue at a national level.”
In both style and substance, Platner diverges from the typical trajectory of high-profile Maine politicians. Even before facing a slew of controversies last fall, including offensive old Reddit posts and a Nazi symbol tattoo he later covered up, the Sullivan oysterman was crafting a campaign distinct from any Maine Democrat.
Platner rejects the progressive label, but his policies largely align to the left of Mills. He advocates for progressive priorities such as Medicare for All, has characterized Israel’s military actions in Gaza as genocide, and supports abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
When asked if progressives can triumph in Maine, Platner cited polling that demonstrates Sanders’ popularity, despite his narrow loss to Biden in the 2020 presidential primary.
Recent elections have seen more progressive legislators emerge from southern Maine, yet further-left candidates have historically lagged behind moderates in statewide gubernatorial and Senate primaries.
“There’s a reason why [Rep. Chellie] Pingree never ran for governor,” noted Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the University of Maine. “She recognizes it would be very difficult for someone as far-left as she is to win statewide in Maine. And when we look at Democrats who do win statewide, they resemble Janet Mills.”
Platner’s appeal may stem less from his specific policies than from his ability to resonate with Democratic voters frustrated with the current political climate and the perceived inaction of their own party. The Trump administration’s extreme measures have catalyzed even previously apathetic citizens to protest, many finding alignment with Platner’s economic populism, as pointed out by Maine writer and activist Andy O’Brien, who supports Platner.
“The Trump administration has been so extreme that it’s radicalized average, ‘normie’ voters,” O’Brien stated.
Reflecting on a local Democratic party meeting he attended in early 2025, Platner expressed frustration that discussions revolved around bylaws rather than addressing Trump. He sensed a grassroots energy yearning for action—a sentiment evident during large protests against Trump in Maine—yet few organized avenues existed to channel that momentum.
His campaign has emerged as one such outlet. Following a spike in ICE activity in Maine, Platner spearheaded protests outside Collins’ offices in Portland and Bangor, demanding the senator cut funding to the agency, with dozens of supporters braving frigid temperatures to attend.
“I support Graham Platner because we need a U.S. senator who will be honest, truthful, and work for us,” said Laura Neal, a Bar Harbor resident, holding a sign that read, “My Cat Hates ICE.”
Like many of Platner’s supporters, Neal holds no animosity toward Mills but believes it’s time for a change. “Governor Mills has done a great job, but it’s time for new energy,” she remarked.
In the broader discourse surrounding the Maine Senate race, Mills has found herself in the unusual position of being the less-discussed candidate—an oddity for a seasoned, well-regarded two-term governor.
Mills attributes the Democrats’ struggle to unseat Collins to the lack of “tested” candidates in the past. She notes that Collins has never faced a Democrat who has previously won statewide, but Mills believes her extensive experience in the state matches Collins’ familiarity.
“Each of us probably knows everybody in Maine, one way or another,” Mills said in an interview.
Beginning her career as a district attorney in conservative western Maine, Mills later served in the state legislature and as attorney general during much of Republican Paul LePage’s governorship, often clashing with him. In 2018, she became Maine’s first female governor, winning a general election with over 50 percent of the vote—the first such victory in two decades. Four years later, she bested LePage by 13 percentage points during his attempted comeback.
Under a Democratic trifecta, Mills has expanded Medicaid and pursued various priorities, including free community college and universal school meals, alongside increased abortion access following the Dobbs decision.
Since Trump’s re-election, Mills has confronted him on multiple occasions. During a White House encounter last year, when the president threatened to withhold funding due to Maine’s acceptance of transgender participation in youth sports, Mills fired back, “See you in court.” The Trump administration’s temporary withholding of certain agricultural funding led to a state lawsuit, resulting in the restoration of the funds.
This conflict underscores a key theme of Mills’ Senate campaign: Collins has failed to stand up to Trump, but Mills will. Her latest TV ad portrays her as “the one who took on Donald Trump and won.”
“Susan Collins is formidable,” noted Trish Riley, a retired health policy expert who hosted Mills in her Brunswick home last month. “The only person who can defeat a formidable candidate is another formidable candidate, and that’s Janet.”
Mills’ governorship has not been without its conflicts with fellow Democrats. She has occasionally clashed with progressives in the legislature, issuing more than 50 vetoes, with significant disputes surrounding labor and tribal sovereignty. These moments have provided Platner opportunities to critique her record from a progressive standpoint, and several labor unions have notably endorsed him.
Her primary’s greater challenge may stem from the support she receives from national Democratic figures like Schumer. The fallout from Sara Gideon’s 2020 loss to Collins—despite substantial national backing that allowed her to outspend Collins—has fostered a belief that national Democrats mishandle funds and misunderstand Maine’s political landscape. This sentiment of distrust has only intensified since Trump’s return to power.
“There’s a reaction among many Democrats to what they perceive as the weakness of establishment leaders in Washington,” commented Amy Fried, a retired political science professor from the University of Maine and a long-time Collins critic. “Chuck Schumer’s association with Mills—whether or not she would have run otherwise—further complicates her standing among progressives who feel let down by the party’s leadership in resisting Trump.”
Mills asserts that her decision to run was independent of any promises made to Schumer, and she bristles at being labeled part of the political establishment.
“I didn’t get elected to the legislature because someone said, ‘You should be anointed to this job.’ I worked for it, I ran for it, and I won,” she said in an interview. “When I ran for district attorney, I defeated three opponents in the primary, then another in the general election. I’ve always earned my place. Bring it on.”
Republicans, meanwhile, are reveling in the prospect of a contentious primary.
“Maine Democrats are embroiled in a contest of extremes—the only question is which candidate will veer farther left to secure victory in this messy primary,” quipped Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci in a statement.
Whoever emerges victorious in June will face the politically resilient Collins. Should Democrats fail to unseat the GOP senator, the losing faction in the primary may be left contemplating how their candidate would have fared against her.
Most supporters of both Platner and Mills indicate their willingness to back the eventual Democratic nominee, with defeating Collins being the overarching concern. However, a bitter primary could alienate certain voters, where every single vote will be pivotal come November.
“The differences between the two candidates are substantial, and I anticipate things will become quite oppositional as the primary progresses,” Cote, the former gubernatorial candidate, observed. “How the winner unites the party afterward will be a significant challenge.”
