The stakes couldn’t be higher in Maine. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican in a deeply blue state, is fighting for her political life—again. For the third election cycle in a row, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has her in his crosshairs as the top target.
Collins has survived these battles before, but 2026 is different. She’s seeking a sixth term in a race that could decide control of the Senate itself. Democrats see a golden opportunity, especially after Governor Janet Mills—Schumer’s preferred candidate—dropped out, clearing the path for a political newcomer.
That newcomer is Graham Platner, a military veteran and oyster farmer who has never held public office. He has something Democrats crave: grassroots energy and the backing of progressive icons Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. His message is pure economic populism: take on corporate power, fight for the working class.
Collins isn’t hiding her strategy. She plans to paint Platner as too far left for Maine voters. “I believe that will be the conclusion of Maine voters,” she says, but she’s careful not to take anything for granted.
Platner carries serious baggage. A decade-old Reddit post surfaced where he suggested people shouldn’t “get so f---ed up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to” when discussing rape. He apologized after it made headlines. Then there’s the tattoo: a skull and crossbones he got while drinking with fellow Marines in Croatia that he later covered up after learning it resembled a Nazi symbol.
Collins won’t say exactly how she’ll attack these issues. “I don’t want to preview too much of our strategy,” she says, but her allies are already running ads highlighting them. She insists she wants a civil campaign focused on issues and accomplishments.
Platner, meanwhile, frames Collins as part of a “broken Washington” that’s failed everyday Americans. He calls her moderate image a “charade,” pointing to her support for some of Trump’s agenda. “She and Republican politicians like her have prioritized the interests of billionaires and corporations over people,” he charges.
The political headwinds are brutal for Collins. Republicans control Washington, which historically leads to midterm losses. Add persistent inflation, rising gas prices tied to an unpopular conflict with Iran, and Trump’s sinking approval ratings—the environment is toxic for any incumbent.
Collins points to her record. She championed the low-income heating assistance program, securing funding to help Mainers cope with high costs. She opposes cuts to food stamps and other programs for struggling families. She made these remarks standing inside a food bank she helped expand with federal dollars. “It serves more than 1,000 families every week,” she notes with pride.
But Democrats see Maine as their best chance to flip a Senate seat. In the last campaign, Schumer’s allied groups poured over $160 million into negative ads against Collins. She expects the same this time. “Fortunately, the people of Maine are smart,” she says. “They know lies and distortions when they see it.”
Whether they’ll see through the attacks again—or decide it’s time for change—will decide one of the most consequential Senate races in the country.
