Scandal-Plagued Maine Democrat Takes Aim At Collins

United States Senate emblem on wooden podium

A scandal-plagued Democrat just won Maine’s Senate primary — and his first move was to unleash a fiery attack on five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins, calling her “spineless and corrupt.”

Story Snapshot

Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and Marine veteran, won the Maine Democratic Senate primary on June 9, 2026, and will face incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in November.
In his victory speech, Platner called Collins “spineless and corrupt” and claimed she serves Donald Trump, wealthy donors, and corporate interests instead of Maine voters.
Platner himself faces serious controversies, including allegations tied to a Nazi-linked tattoo and other misconduct claims that have drawn wide media attention.
Collins is a five-term incumbent running for a sixth term, and the race is seen as a key contest that could affect control of the Senate.

Platner Wins Primary, Fires Opening Shots at Collins

Graham Platner clinched the Maine Democratic Senate nomination on June 9, 2026, setting up a high-stakes fall race against Senator Susan Collins. Platner is an oyster farmer and former Marine who ran as a populist outsider. In his victory speech, he wasted no time going on offense. He called Collins “spineless and corrupt” and declared that she “doesn’t serve us.” He claimed she instead serves Trump, wealthy elites, and corporate donors.

Platner’s speech included sharp, unverified accusations. He claimed Collins used her position to funnel $60 million in federal contracts to her lobbyist husband. He also claimed she received more private equity money than any other member of Congress — including from firms tied to Maine mill shutdowns. He further alleged she voted with Trump 95% of the time and broke her promise to protect Roe v. Wade. None of these specific claims have been independently verified by available sources.

Platner’s Own Scandals Threaten His Campaign

Even as Platner launched attacks on Collins, his own campaign hit serious turbulence. Both Maine Public and PBS NewsHour reported a “withering blitz” of revelations surrounding him, including a controversy over a Nazi-linked tattoo and other misconduct allegations. These stories have pulled media attention away from his attacks on Collins and toward questions about his own character and fitness for office.

Collins has not stayed silent. She publicly criticized Platner over his reported anti-Israel rhetoric and his comments mocking a wounded American soldier. Collins called it “never appropriate to mock a downed soldier.” For a Marine veteran running on his military service, these controversies cut especially deep and give Collins strong material heading into the general election campaign.

What’s Really at Stake for Maine Voters

Collins is one of the Senate’s most well-known moderates. She has a long track record of working across party lines. That record makes her a target for the left, but it also makes her hard to beat in a state like Maine. She is seeking a sixth term, and the race is widely seen as one that could help decide which party controls the Senate after November.

Graham Platner is expected to be Maine’s Democratic Senate nominee, ABC News projects.
Platner is now slated to take on longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November’s general election. @jayobtv reports. pic.twitter.com/yPs4gubB6o

— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 10, 2026

Platner’s campaign is built on populist anger — the kind of outsider energy that can catch fire quickly. But his personal controversies give Collins a clear opening. Voters will have to weigh fiery accusations that remain unproven against a candidate whose own background is now under a microscope. Maine’s Senate race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 midterm cycle.