politics
Graham Platner Hosts Trivia Games and Happy Hours in Maine U.S. Senate Campaign
Democratic candidate Graham Platner is running in the Maine U.S. Senate primary against Governor Janet Mills, with the winner facing incumbent Senator Susan Collins in November. Platner's campaign events include trivia nights addressing his past controversies and happy hours at local venues.
Apr 5, 7:30 AM·2m read1 source
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KITTERY, Maine -- Graham Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer and military veteran, is a first-time Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine. He is competing in the June 9, 2024, primary against Governor Janet Mills, 78, who is in her second term.
The primary winner will face five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins, 73, in the general election, a contest that could influence Senate control.
Platner's campaign has organized events such as trivia games that incorporate questions about his background, including past controversies. ” Participants consumed soda and cookies while listening to music from the Boston punk band Dropkick Murphys, which Platner favors.
” Beth Knight, a 63-year-old teacher who attended, stated: “Graham Platner’s campaign gave me a place to put my energy in a positive way.
Platner's campaign focuses on affordability issues, including housing and health care. However, media coverage has emphasized his past, such as a skull-and-crossbones tattoo he obtained during a night of drinking on military leave in Croatia. Platner has stated he was unaware of its association with Nazi symbols at the time and has covered it with a different design.
He has also disavowed inflammatory comments from old online postings.
More recently, Platner appeared as a guest on a podcast hosted by Nate Cornacchia, a retired Green Beret accused of antisemitism. Governor Mills receives support from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and other Democrats, who view Platner as an untested candidate.
Maine has one of the oldest voting populations in the U.S., and its voters frequently select moderate politicians. Platner's antiestablishment message targets what his campaign launch video identifies as “the oligarchy and the billionaires” as the primary enemy.
