Scandal-Plagued Graham Platner Leads Maine Democratic Senate Primary to Challenge Susan Collins

Maine voters head to the polls Tuesday for the Democratic primary to select the party's nominee to challenge incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in November. Graham Platner is the leading candidate seeking to oust Collins.

The race has drawn national attention because of controversies surrounding Platner, including a sexting scandal that occurred while he was married. Republicans have made Platner's controversies a central line of attack ahead of the primary. Outside organizations backing Collins have aired ads and amplified criticism of the Democratic candidate.

Sen. Susan Collins repeatedly declined to comment on the allegations surrounding Platner. "I really have nothing to add to it," Collins told Fox News Digital when asked about the allegations. Her recent reluctance differs from her earlier remarks about Platner.

"It’s never appropriate to mock a downed American soldier," Collins said. Party leaders and allies have increasingly backed and formally endorsed Platner. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ro Khanna have supported him.

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Platner stood together during a "Fighting Oligarchy" tour stop at the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine campus in Orono, Maine, on May 24, 2026. The live discussion on The Hill titled "The Fight for 2028" is scheduled to begin at noon EDT.

The panel includes Amie Parnes, Ian Swanson and Democratic strategist Joel Payne. The conversation will cover the primaries in Maine and South Carolina, the return of the Bidens, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's popularity and related topics.