Graham Platner, a Marine veteran, oyster farmer and progressive activist, has won the Democratic nomination for the US Senate in Maine, defeating Governor Janet Mills and David Costello with 72% of the vote. His victory came despite a series of personal controversies that threatened to derail his campaign.
Platner's candidacy was shadowed by reports of sexually explicit messages exchanged while married, allegations of past volatile behaviour, and a tattoo linked to Nazi symbolism, which he said he later covered. He also faced scrutiny over old Reddit posts containing homophobic slurs. Platner attributed his past actions to untreated PTSD and alcohol abuse after military service, and presented his journey as one of redemption.
His wife, Amy Gertner, publicly defended him, dismissing the media coverage as gossip. In his victory speech, Platner said: 'Redemption is not just some simple or easy destination; it’s a journey. I’ve made mistakes in my life, mistakes I regret, that I live with, that I continue to learn from.'
Platner will now face Republican Senator Susan Collins in November, in a race seen as crucial for Democratic hopes of taking control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority. He criticised Collins for serving 'Donald Trump' and 'the Epstein class', promising to defeat her.
