Graham Platner, a bearded, broad-shouldered oysterman and U.S. Army and Marine Corps veteran who served four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, announced Tuesday that he will run for U.S. Senate in Maine as a Democrat. Platner is seeking to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who is expected to run for a sixth term next year.
In his campaign launch video, Platner is shown harvesting oysters and chopping wood while declaring that Maine has become “essentially unlivable for working-class people.” He told ABC News his run is motivated by the widening wealth gap that has priced locals out of their own towns.
Platner, who now serves as the harbormaster in his hometown of Sullivan, aligns himself with progressive Democrats, citing admiration for Bernie Sanders, Sherrod Brown, Ed Markey, and Sheldon Whitehouse. He backs “Medicare for All” and has called the war in Gaza a “genocide.” On divisive cultural issues, such as transgender women in sports, Platner said they are distractions from core economic struggles, stressing his focus on healthcare, wages, and affordability.
Comparisons are already being drawn between Platner and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, both of whom style themselves as populist, working-class voices. Platner has hired the Fight Agency, the same consulting firm that worked on campaigns for Fetterman and Nebraska independent candidate Dan Osborn.
Though Maine Gov. Janet Mills is rumored to be weighing her own run with encouragement from national Democrats, Platner downplayed a possible primary clash, arguing the party needs to move beyond its “same old playbook” and embrace unconventional candidates.
Senate as a Democrat, pledging to fight for working families and restore the party’s focus on labor and economic justice. Senate as a Democrat, aiming to unseat Republican Susan Collins while championing working-class issues like healthcare, wages, and affordability. Senate as a Democrat, positioning himself as a voice for working-class voters and calling for his party to return to its roots of fighting for labor unions and economic justice. Senate, says he connects daily with working-class voters who once backed Donald Trump. “I drink coffee every morning with guys who voted for Trump because they wanted change,” he said, arguing the Democratic Party must return to its roots as the party of labor unions and working people.
Platner said he has not spoken with national Democratic leaders about his campaign. “Nobody has called me,” he told ABC News. “And I’m not really in a position to call anybody because I’m the harbormaster of Sullivan, Maine.”
