politics
Maine Democratic Primary Polls Show Graham Platner Leading Janet Mills by 35 Points
Graham Platner, a Marine veteran and oyster farmer, holds a commanding lead over Gov. Janet Mills in Maine's Democratic Senate primary set for June 9. Polls show him ahead by 35 points, positioning him to face Sen. Susan Collins in the general election. His campaign emphasizes progressive policies amid past controversies.
Apr 22, 8:52 PM·3m read1 source
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U.S. Senate in Maine, leads Gov. Janet Mills by 35 points in recent polling ahead of the June 9 primary, according to the Washington Examiner. The winner will challenge five-term Sen. Susan Collins in the general election.
Echelon Insights polling shows Collins trailing Platner by 6% ahead of November. ' Polls indicate Platner holds a commanding lead ahead of the primary. Platner enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after graduating from high school in 2003.
He participated in three combat tours in Iraq during his eight years in the Marine Corps. He served an additional tour in the Army in the Afghanistan War. Platner stated to podcast hosts Andrew Vontz and Jonathan E.
' Platner elaborated, 'But I always tried to inculcate this mental commitment to just always moving forward. No matter how brutal it’s feeling, no matter how gassed out you are, you always have to push. But it’s important to train yourself, and the people you’re leading, that even when you think you are absolutely done, that you are fully smoked, you can keep going.
You have the capacity to keep going. ' Platner began working on his friend’s oyster farm in 2018. He owns Waukeag Neck Oyster Co. in Frenchman Bay. Platner showed oyster shells to a visitor at his home on Nov.
3, 2025, in Sullivan, Maine. Platner stated to New Yorker last fall, 'The first time I ate the oysters, I was, like, holy s*. ' He told Bon Appétit, 'There’s a level of cooperation that exists on the sea.
Out here on the water, everybody’s got a whole bunch of different political opinions, but if someone’s in trouble, everybody shows up. ' Platner backs a 5% to 6% tax on people who make over $1 billion. He supports universal free healthcare nationwide.
