Graham Platner Becomes Maine Democrats’ Senate Pick at 41 after Janet Mills Drops Out
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 16
Graham Platner Becomes Maine Democrats’ Senate Pick at 41 after Janet Mills Drops Out
11 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 16
Janet Mills’ exit before a planned debate left 41-year-old Graham Platner as the presumptive Democratic nominee for Maine’s U.S. Senate race.
Platner, a progressive military veteran and oyster farmer with no elected-office experience, surged past the party establishment’s preferred candidate by winning strong backing from Maine’s Democratic base and donors in and outside the state.
Democrats are now relying on him to challenge longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins in November as they try to win back the Senate.
That general-election push comes with risks: Platner has already faced scrutiny over a chest tattoo widely recognized as a Nazi symbol and past offensive social media posts.
Can a candidate’s controversial past become an asset if voters value authenticity over a polished record?
In a time of economic stress, will voters favor securing local funds or a platform of systemic change?