{"id":2612694,"date":"2026-06-09T21:57:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T01:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/collins-to-face-platner-in-high-stakes-maine-race\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T21:59:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T01:59:11","slug":"collins-to-face-platner-in-high-stakes-maine-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/collins-to-face-platner-in-high-stakes-maine-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Collins to face Platner in high-stakes Maine race"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcollins-to-face-platner-in-high-stakes-maine-race%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2612694&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democrat Graham Platner and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) are set to face off in Maine\u2019s 2026 Senate race after both won their nominations. Platner advanced in the Democratic primary with 74.7% of the vote (with 10% of ballots counted), effectively propelled by Gov. Janet mills suspending her campaign earlier. collins, seeking a sixth term, won renomination and is aiming to remain a long-tenured moderate Republican.<\/p>\n<p>The matchup is expected to be highly watched as it will test whether Collins\u2019s independent-republican image can hold up against increased Democratic efforts to tie her to President Donald Trump, while also testing whether Platner\u2019s anti-establishment appeal can overcome a growing trail of controversy. Collins has previously managed to win despite strong Democratic challenges, including in 2020, when she won without a Democrat breaking 44%.<\/p>\n<p>For her part, Collins has already indicated she plans to make Platner\u2019s personal and behavioral allegations central to the general election. Those concerns intensified after resurfaced old online comments and allegations involving sexually explicit communications and disturbing conduct described by former partners, which Platner denies as politically motivated.<\/p>\n<p>Simultaneously occurring, platner\u2019s campaign has drawn keen crowds and grassroots support from both Maine progressives and national backers, framing him as a populist outsider whose military service and injuries inform his critique of both parties. Democrats see the race as a key pickup chance in a blue-leaning state, but they also face the risk that Platner\u2019s controversies could alienate the moderates and independents needed to defeat Collins.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\">Democrat Graham Platner <\/a>and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\">Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)<\/a> are headed toward what is expected to be one of the most closely watched Senate races of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\">2026<\/a> after both candidates secured their respective nominations Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner advanced in the Democratic primary with 74.7% of the vote and 10% of ballots counted, according to the<em> Associated Press<\/em> as of 9:23 p.m. Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4600640\/paul-lepage-republican-nomination-maine-2nd-district\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Paul LePage wins GOP nod for Maine\u2019s 2nd Congressional District<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4601303\/collins-platner-maine-senate-primary-results\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Collins and Platner set up blockbuster Maine Senate showdown<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4600485\/lindsey-graham-gop-primary-senate-south-carolina\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Lindsey Graham wins GOP primary for another Senate term in South Carolina<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The matchup will test whether Collins\u2019s carefully cultivated brand as an independent Republican can withstand growing Democratic anger toward <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">President Donald Trump <\/a>and whether Platner\u2019s anti-establishment appeal can overcome a steady stream of personal controversies that have threatened to derail his candidacy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner, a 41-year-old Marine veteran and oysterman, emerged from the Democratic primary after <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4549217\/janet-mills-drops-out-maine-senate-race-clearing-way-platner\/\">Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign in April<\/a>, effectively clearing the path for his nomination. Collins cruised to renomination as she seeks a sixth term that would make her Maine\u2019s longest-serving member of the Senate. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race immediately becomes one of Democrats\u2019 top pickup opportunities in a cycle that could determine control of the Senate. Collins is the only Republican senator representing a state carried by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in 2024, and national Democrats have long viewed Maine as one of the few places where a moderate Republican incumbent could be vulnerable in the Trump era. But Collins has repeatedly defied political gravity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-low-only-6-percent-of-americans-approve-of-gop-leader-mitch-mcconnell\/\" title=\"Only 6% of Americans approve of GOP leader Mitch McConnell, marking a new low\">facing intense opposition<\/a> and millions in outside spending, the longtime senator has won five Senate races without a Democratic challenger surpassing 44% of the vote. In 2020, Collins secured reelection by nearly 9 percentage points over Democrat Sara Gideon even as Joe Biden carried the state and public polling consistently showed the Republican trailing throughout much of the campaign. Now, however, Collins enters a markedly different political environment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans nationwide are facing renewed backlash tied to several Trump administration policies, and Democrats are expected to aggressively tie Collins to the president despite her history of occasionally breaking with him. Collins <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/1500159\/riveting-democrats-stun-senate-impeachment-trial-with-unseen-footage-of-capitol-attack\/\">voted to convict Trump<\/a> following his second impeachment trial and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3298732\/murkowski-first-gop-senator-against-hegseth\/\">opposed Pete Hegseth\u2019s nomination<\/a> for war secretary, helping reinforce her reputation as one of the Senate GOP\u2019s more independent voices.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, Democrats argue those moments are overshadowed by the times Collins aligned with Republicans on the issues that mattered most to the party\u2019s base, particularly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.collins.senate.gov\/newsroom\/senator-collins-announces-she-will-vote-confirm-judge-kavanaugh\">her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh,<\/a> which cemented the conservative majority that later overturned<em> Roe v. Wade.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner has attempted to harness frustration with both political parties into an insurgent-style campaign that has rapidly gained traction across Maine. His rallies have drawn sizable crowds from small coastal towns to inland communities, while his campaign has brought in an influx of grassroots donations from both in-state supporters and national progressives eager to flip the seat.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Democrat has centered his candidacy around an intensely populist message, arguing Washington has failed working Americans while prioritizing foreign conflicts and wealthy interests over domestic concerns. Platner frequently ties that message to his military service and his own experiences navigating the healthcare system after combat injuries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the rise of Platner\u2019s campaign has coincided with mounting scrutiny over his past behavior and personal life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Questions about the Democrat surfaced shortly after he launched his Senate bid, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4588033\/graham-platner-question-armenia-genocide-reddit\/\">when old Reddit comments <\/a>containing racist, sexist, and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >anti-gay remarks resurfaced online<\/a>. Platner said the posts were written while he was struggling with PTSD after returning from military service. He later altered a tattoo after critics argued it resembled Nazi imagery. The scrutiny intensified in recent weeks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner\u2019s wife, Amy Gertner, confirmed he had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-view-rips-graham-platner-keep-it-in-your-pants\/\" title=\"The View rips ...: \u2018Keep it in your pants\u2019\">exchanged sexually explicit messages<\/a> with multiple women during their marriage. Soon after, <em>the New York Times <\/em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/04\/us\/politics\/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html\">published allegations <\/a>from former partners describing behavior they characterized as abusive and disturbing. One former girlfriend, a Republican operative, alleged Platner forcefully restrained her during an argument and disputed his claims that he did not understand the symbolism associated with a controversial tattoo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner has denied the allegations and dismissed the reports as politically motivated attacks intended to weaken his campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking to<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/graham-platner-susan-collins-senate-elections-8b01a5c9a6eb5dceae18496a9b6cdc64\"> supporters at a rally in Bar Harbor on Friday<\/a>, Platner directly referenced the controversy surrounding his candidacy and argued voters would reject the attacks against him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen politically motivated, serious and false accusations are made against me, Maine, you have my back,\u201d Platner said. \u201cThe state of Maine raised me and the state of Maine saved me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collins has already begun signaling she intends to make Platner\u2019s controversies central to the general election campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe allegations against Graham Platner are extremely troubling and serious, and he owes the people of Maine a detailed answer and I haven\u2019t heard that,\u201d Collins said on Tuesday, speaking to reporters. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4600015\/graham-platner-john-fetterman-asshole-senate\/\"><strong>PLATNER VOWS NTO TO BE \u2018A**HOLE\u2019 LIKE FETTERMAN IF ELECTED TO SENATE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The coming race is expected to draw massive outside spending and national attention as Democrats attempt to defeat one of the last remaining Republican senators with crossover appeal in a blue-leaning state. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The contest could ultimately serve as a defining test of whether the cross-party coalition that kept Collins in office for nearly 30 years can still hold together in today\u2019s deeply polarized political climate. For Democrats, the race offers a major pickup opportunity and a chance to capitalize on enthusiasm surrounding Platner\u2019s outsider campaign, but it also carries significant risks as they weigh whether the controversies surrounding their candidate could drive away the moderate and independent voters needed to defeat Collins in November.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrat Graham Platner and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) are set for a closely watched 2026 Senate race after clinching nominations Tuesday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2612695,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-pw2di949p-1781033931341.jpg?1781019576&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[9762,9148,65502],"class_list":["post-2612694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-collins","tag-maine","tag-platner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-pw2di949p-1781033931341.jpg?1781019576&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2612694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2612694"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2612694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2612698,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2612694\/revisions\/2612698"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2612695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2612694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2612694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2612694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}