Platner wins Maine Democratic Senate primary with 75% on early count, sets up November clash with Collins
Oyster farmer and combat veteran Graham Platner won Maine's Democratic US Senate primary on June 9, with the race called at 9:25 p.m.
At a glance
- Graham Platner won the Maine Democratic US Senate primary on June 9, 2026; race called at 9:25 p.m. EDT with 8% of precincts reporting and Platner at 75%
- Gov. Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign in late April, finished second; David Costello finished third
- Platner will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November in a race tied to control of the US Senate
- Pre-primary controversies included offensive social media posts and a now-covered tattoo featuring Nazi iconography
VERDICT — CONFIRMED
Oyster farmer and combat veteran Graham Platner won Maine's Democratic US Senate primary on June 9, with the race called at 9:25 p.m. EDT as Platner held 75% of counted ballots with just 8% of precincts reporting, Maine Public reported.
Governor Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign in late April, finished second, with Brunswick resident David Costello third. Platner, who entered the race last August with a viral launch video and campaigns on taxing the wealthy and Medicare for all, survived a final week dominated by revelations of offensive past social-media posts and a now-covered tattoo featuring Nazi iconography, struggles he has attributed to disillusionment after deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. 'We will take back this Senate seat and when we do we will take back our power,' he told supporters in his victory speech.
Platner advances to face Republican Senator Susan Collins, in office since 1997, in a November contest both parties describe as potentially decisive for control of the US Senate during President Trump's final two years in office. The Maine result headlined a four-state primary night on June 9 that also included contests in South Carolina, Nevada and North Dakota.
Why it matters
Democrats' nomination of a populist outsider over a sitting governor commits the party's most consequential Senate pickup opportunity to its highest-variance candidate, making Collins-Platner the cycle's clearest test of anti-establishment strategy.
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Key facts on file
- Graham Platner won the Maine Democratic US Senate primary on June 9, 2026; race called at 9:25 p.m. EDT with 8% of precincts reporting and Platner at 75%
- Gov. Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign in late April, finished second; David Costello finished third
- Platner will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November in a race tied to control of the US Senate
- Pre-primary controversies included offensive social media posts and a now-covered tattoo featuring Nazi iconography
