We have an update on the Maine Senate Democrat primary, and it's not good news for Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Newcomer Graham Platner and the state's governor, Janet Mills, were the top two candidates in the race, with Platner being endorsed by twice-failed presidential candidate and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as a humble, purported working-class guy who would buck Schumer and the Democrat establishment and would be a "fighter" against President Trump's America First agenda.
Mills had the backing of Schumer and the Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), with the belief that her popularity in the state and her standoff with Trump over the issue of men in women's sports elevated her profile enough to the point she'd be a shoo-in for the nomination.
But though the Platner campaign was rocked by one scandal after another, including the people of Maine finding out that he had a Nazi-themed tattoo, he comfortably remained at the top of the leaderboard in the race, something that, along with a lack of financial resources, prompted Mills to suspend her campaign on Thursday.
In her statement, Mills stopped short of endorsing Platner, saying that "I very simply do not have the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources," while adding that she had, "unending love, admiration, and hope for Maine people — a people whose hearts are filled with love and whose integrity and humility is surpassed only by their kindness, generosity, and compassion."
My statement suspending my candidacy for the U.S. Senate: pic.twitter.com/IDs58EfatC
— Janet Mills (@JanetMillsforME) April 30, 2026
The DSCC responded to the news by getting behind Platner, saying in a lukewarm statement that "After years of allowing Trump’s abuses of power, Senator Collins has never been more vulnerable and we will work with the presumptive Democratic nominee Graham Platner to defeat her."
For her part, Sen. Collins (R-ME) was making good use of all the oppo dumps against Platner during the primary prior to Mills dropping out:
Susan Collins has also pivoted to the general election. Last week, the senator responded to negative ads from Schumer-aligned groups by referencing the chest tattoo Platner covered up after it was identified last year as a Nazi symbol.
Susan Collins: Chuck is trying to cover up Democrats’ bad ideas by attacking others. You know, when I think about it, his approach is like trying to cover up an outrageous tattoo. You can paint over it, but we all know what’s underneath."
NOTUS: Susan Collins has also pivoted to the general election. Last week, the senator responded to negative ads from Schumer-aligned groups by referencing the chest tattoo Platner covered up after it was identified last year as a Nazi symbol.
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) April 29, 2026
Susan Collins: Chuck is trying to… https://t.co/kzd2bQ5bVy pic.twitter.com/vykV15mnto
When I say there is a large volume of material on Platner for Collins to work with during the general election, it's an understatement (we've documented a lot of it here). Here's a summary of sorts:
The real life version of him is the rich kid who lied about a Nazi tattoo, said rape victims need to take accountability, that white people living in Maine were stupid, and said he was a communist at 34 years old.
— Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) April 30, 2026
He said who he really is… you choose not to believe him https://t.co/xtslr70KZZ
This is important - they've barely scratched the surface with Platner. https://t.co/yI6MgfPoTc
— Matt Whitlock (@MattWhitlock) April 30, 2026
While Platner might have coasted through the primary, the general campaign season is a different matter, as both he and Collins will be pursuing more than just the votes of their respective political parties but also independents, who comprise 36 percent of the state's voting base, according to Independent Voting Project:
Total Registered Voters: 965,085
Democrats: 325,974 (33.78%)
Republicans: 287,858 (29.83%)
Other/Independent: 351,253 (36.40%)
Democrats view the seat as a top pick-up opportunity, but Platner is mistake-prone, and Collins is a seasoned campaigner who has survived previous challenges and who is not going to go quietly into the night. This one should be interesting to watch.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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