At a campaign event over the weekend, Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine, said that if his party failed to win the majority in the Senate, his role would include activism, showing up at protests and picket lines.
“If we don’t get the majority and things continue to get worse, I will promise you that I’m going to be arrested as a United States senator,” Platner said. He also outlined other aggressive steps he would take if in the minority, saying, “We haul everyone in the White House under subpoena, day in, day out, in front of Senate committees to answer questions about all the lawbreaking they’ve been doing.”
Platner has also said there is “a compelling case for the impeachment and removal of at least two” Supreme Court justices, and has called for doing “politics fundamentally differently in this country.” These positions have helped him build strong momentum, as he is currently leading by double digits in recent polls of the Democratic primary, reports Mediaite.
Platner’s controversial past and Collins’ five-term record make this one of the most unusual Senate races in the country
Platner has not been without controversy. He has made headlines for social media posts that downplayed sexual assault, criticized police and rural Americans, and retweeted content from known anti-Semite Stew Peters. He has also been accused of having a tattoo of a Nazi symbol, which he has since covered up. Platner has attributed some of his past comments to struggles with post-traumatic stress after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His rise in the race came as Governor Janet Mills suspended her Senate campaign on Thursday, saying she lacked the financial resources to continue. Mills had been the preferred candidate of top Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Democratic Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand.
When asked by NBC News if she would endorse Platner in the general election, Mills said, “I’ve always been a Democrat. I’ve always supported the Democratic candidate.” Platner responded to Mills’ exit with kind words, saying, “Janet Mills has dedicated her career to this beautiful state.”
Then she added, “We are all eternally grateful for her service. … We both got into this race because we know how critical defeating Susan Collins is. And her decision today reflects that commitment. I look forward to working with her between now and November to do just that.”
In the general election, Platner will face Senator Susan Collins, a five-term moderate Republican who has proven to be a difficult opponent to beat. Collins has already begun attacking Platner, pointing to his controversial social media posts and the Nazi tattoo.
This comes at a time when Senate Republicans are facing pressure over key votes, adding more tension to an already heated political climate. On Mills’ exit from the race, Collins said, “I’m sure this was a very difficult decision for Gov. Mills. And I wish her well. She has devoted her life to public service in the state of Maine, in many different capacities.”
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott also weighed in, saying, “Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats just coronated a phony who is too extreme for Maine. Susan Collins has always put in the work for her constituents and delivered. Washington Democrats always fall short in Maine and will again, because they just nominated a dishonest radical.”
Platner, for his part, has shifted his focus to the general election, arguing that he is the strongest candidate to take on and defeat Collins. The broader Senate battle is also intensifying, as Democrats’ key Senate rule could block the election bill, a development that could shape the political landscape heading into November.
Published: May 5, 2026 11:30 am