Combat Veteran and Oyster Farmer Leads Maine Senate Race in Polls and Fundraising

Graham Platner spoke to supporters at a rally in Bar Harbor, Maine, on June 5, 2026. The event drew more than 600 people, according to his campaign, and was organized by Rep. Ro Khanna. Progressive gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson and congressional contender Matt Dunlap also appeared.

Platner told the crowd that when hurtful things he said on the internet a decade ago came out, Maine had his back. He said that as every single piece of his past gets dug up, litigated, and weaponized, supporters have his back. He added that when politically motivated, serious and false accusations are made against him, Maine has his back.

Platner is a military combat veteran who served multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is an oyster farmer from Sullivan, Maine, and has acknowledged his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder from his tours of duty. He apologized for controversial Reddit posts after they made headlines last fall.

He said he got a skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007 while drinking with fellow Marines in Croatia and covered it with a new design after learning last year that it resembled a Nazi symbol. Rep. Ro Khanna said Graham Platner's past relationships were toxic and volatile and that there is no excuse for them.

Khanna said Platner told him he was at a very dark period after returning from two tours of duty in Iraq as an infantryman seeing violence and death. Khanna said Platner grew as a person when he came back to Maine, became an oyster farmer, found peace, and is ashamed of that period. Khanna said Platner is taking accountability and improving his life and that the country needs that redemption.

Khanna said he agrees with a lot of Platner's economic policies that we should be taxing the billionaires and focusing on the working class. The New York Times reported that there is mounting Democratic concern about Graham Platner's candidacy. The New York Times reported that Platner spoke to supporters in a speech and described the situation as a defiant speech.