Graham Platner, 41, is an oyster farmer, Marine Corps veteran (with three Iraq deployments), and Army National Guard veteran (one Afghanistan deployment) from Sullivan, Maine. He launched his campaign in August 2025 with a viral video criticizing the 'oligarchy' that generated 2.5 million views in 24 hours. Platner is backed by Bernie Sanders and positioned himself as a progressive populist challenging the Democratic establishment. Despite controversies over old social media posts and a Nazi-linked tattoo, he has led Mills in most polling and significantly outraised her in fundraising. His campaign emphasizes grassroots organizing with over 50 town halls across Maine.
Born in Blue Hill and raised in Ellsworth and Sullivan, Platner enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school and served three infantry tours in Iraq. He worked as a bartender and defense contractor in Washington, D.C. after military service. He attended George Washington University on the G.I. Bill, then enrolled in the Army National Guard and served in Afghanistan. After military service, he became an oyster farmer in Sullivan, Maine. Before launching his 2026 Senate campaign, he was a working fisherman and community activist with no prior political office experience. His campaign is his first run for elected office.
Platner has apologized and disavowed all controversial statements, attributing them to PTSD and personal struggles post-military service
In 2013, Platner made Reddit posts dismissing sexual assault concerns, calling himself a 'communist,' writing that all cops are bastards, and agreeing rural white Americans are racist and stupid. He also has a skull-and-crossbones tattoo from military service that resembles Nazi imagery, which he has since covered. Mills has built her primary campaign heavily around these controversies with attack ads.
Voting History: N/A - Not a voting record, but personal conduct from 2013-2021
Platner fundraised with healthcare lobbyists days before signing a pledge to reject healthcare industry donations
In March 2026, Platner attended a coffee fundraiser with health care lobbyists in Washington, then signed the National Nurses United 'Patients Over Profits' pledge days later, promising to reject donations from healthcare executives and lobbyists. His campaign claims attendees came on their own behalf, not as industry representatives.
Voting History: N/A
Platner's campaign deleted a February 2026 retweet of a Trump State of the Union clip posted by white supremacist Stew Peters
On February 26, 2026, Platner quote-tweeted a clip criticizing Trump's speech, not realizing the original post was from antisemitic white supremacist Stew Peters. The tweet was deleted hours later with an apology. Platner's camp claimed they were unaware of Peters' views.
Voting History: N/A
Platner claims his progressive healthcare message has remained consistent despite fundraising events
Platner's campaign notes that fundraising events held in March and December were not industry-specific events, and attendees came on their own behalf. His message of Medicare for All and breaking up healthcare monopolies has remained constant.
Voting History: N/A
Platner has no Senate voting record and has never held elected office. He has no voting history to evaluate. His record comes from military service, community activism, and social media activity that has become central to the campaign.
Platner's social media maintains a fiery, populist, anti-establishment tone that contrasts sharply with Mills' traditional Democratic messaging. His posts are action-oriented, emphasizing grassroots events and direct voter contact. The tone is combative toward the 'oligarchy' and 'establishment,' and increasingly defensive about his controversial past as attacks from Mills escalate. Overall, his social media reflects a movement-building approach rather than traditional political communication.
Campaign launch video in which Platner states: 'I'm not afraid to name an enemy. And the enemy is the oligarchy. It's the billionaires who pay for it, and the politicians who sell us out.'
Launch video went viral with 2.5 million views in 24 hours, introducing Platner to national audience and establishing his core anti-oligarchy message.
Posts announcing town halls, town hall photos, voter engagement updates, and fundraising appeals using small-donor messaging
Platner has held over 50 town halls and uses social media heavily to promote grassroots events and volunteer recruitment.
Quote-tweeted Trump State of the Union clip criticizing Trump's speech, unknowingly sharing content posted by antisemitic white supremacist Stew Peters
Tweet was deleted hours later after campaign became aware of Peters' background. Platner's team claimed ignorance of Peters' views.
TV spot in which Platner asks voters not to judge him for 'the worst thing I said on the internet, on my worst day 14 years ago'
Response to Mills' attack ads about his 2013 social media posts, positioning his past comments as youthful indiscretions attributable to PTSD struggles.
Platner is unelectable due to controversial past statements about sexual assault, and his candidacy is 'the fastest way to hand Susan Collins another Senate term'
Mills has launched multiple attack ads focusing on Platner's 2013 Reddit posts in which he downplayed sexual assault. Mills' campaign argues Platner should be defined by these statements and that his controversies make him too risky to win the general election.
Platner belittles sexual violence and blames victims, making him unfit for office
EMILY's List president Jessica Mackler stated: 'Women in Maine refuse to send a man who belittles sexual violence and blames victims to the Senate.'
Platner is committed to a radical socialist agenda
The RNC characterized the Democratic primary as between 'extreme vs. more extreme,' attempting to tie both candidates to socialism, though specifically targeting Platner's more progressive platform.