UMVA has learned that Graham Platner, a military combat veteran and oyster farmer, has secured the Democratic Party's Senate nomination in Maine, despite facing a tumultuous bid marred by controversy.
Platner, backed by progressive heavyweights Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Ro Khanna, defeated two longshot rivals in the Democratic Senate primary, setting the stage for a highly competitive showdown with moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the midterm elections.
The embattled Platner has been dogged by numerous controversies, including inflammatory online comments, a now-covered-up tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, and allegations of exchanging explicit messages with women while married, as well as reports of a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking, and violent episodes.
Despite these challenges, Platner remains resolute, declaring at his final rally ahead of the primary that "we're going to win in November and we're going to take power back for the people in this country."
Platner's journey to the nomination was marked by a series of controversies that triggered concerns among some Democrats in Washington about his viability as a candidate.
A former high-level staffer from the Platner campaign publicly expressed concerns about Platner's character, writing that he "is not someone who would be good for Maine or for the country."
However, Platner has continued to garner support from his backers, with Khanna, who organized a rally with Platner, expressing confidence in his ability to redeem himself and championing his economic policies, which focus on taxing the wealthy and supporting the working class.
Maine voters are divided on whether Platner's controversies will impact their opinions of him, with some expressing concerns about his suitability for office, while others believe he can still do a good job.
Collins, meanwhile, has seized on the allegations against Platner, calling them "troubling" and stating that he has "a lot of questions to answer."
The Republican opposition has launched a fierce attack on Platner, with a super PAC aligned with Collins running ads highlighting his controversies and the National Republican Senatorial Committee labeling him a "fraud."
Despite the intense scrutiny and opposition, Platner's Democratic backers remain united behind him, with Khanna asserting that the goal is to defeat Collins and that everyone from Schumer to Sanders is unified around that objective.
The Maine Senate race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the country, with Democrats viewing it as a crucial pickup opportunity in their bid to win back the Senate majority.
Platner's path to victory won't be easy, however, as he faces off against Collins, a moderate Republican who has defied expectations in the past, including her 2018 re-election win.
Collins is running for a sixth term in the Senate, and her record includes votes to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial and opposition to the confirmation of now-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as well as a 2018 vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
