Republican Senator Susan Collins will face Democrat Graham Platner in the upcoming fall election, according to NBC News projections. This race is expected to be a key battle in the fight for control of the Senate. Both candidates secured victories in their primaries on Tuesday. Collins, first elected in 1996, ran unopposed as she aims for a sixth term. Platner, a veteran and oyster farmer, encountered minimal Democratic competition after two-term Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign due to lack of momentum, though she remained on the primary ballot.
While the primary results were predictable, the general election is anticipated to be unpredictable. The Senate election will serve as a battleground for the future direction of the Democratic Party and voter priorities. Platner enters the race with several controversies regarding his past actions.
Maine plays a significant role in the struggle for Senate majority. The Democrats currently have 47 seats and require a net gain of four to seize control. Collins is the only Republican senator from a state that former President Donald Trump lost in 2024, making her a prime target for the Democrats.
Collins has a track record of political survival, overcoming multiple efforts to unseat her and aims to do so once again despite challenging circumstances. In 2020, Collins exceeded poll expectations, winning re-election by over 8 points, while Trump lost the state by around 9 points. President Trump expressed support for Collins in March on Fox News, emphasizing the importance of her victory to maintain Republican majority.
Past Democratic challengers have been center-left candidates supported by the party establishment, yet Collins emerged victorious against them. Platner, however, represents a different kind of opponent. As a populist outsider, he has connected with supporters through his calls to disrupt the status quo, tax the wealthy, expand the safety net, and remove money from politics.
Platner’s campaign is shadowed by controversies. There is the matter of his chest tattoo, which he realized had Nazi connections and subsequently covered. Additionally, old Reddit posts have surfaced where he criticized police, suggested some sexual assault victims were partially responsible, and claimed a “communist” identity. Platner attributes these to past Internet behavior unrelated to his current views.
Recent allegations from ex-girlfriends about “toxic” behavior have emerged, which Platner attributes to “toxic masculinity issues,” denying any physical altercations. These issues have unsettled some Democratic leaders who endorsed Platner after Mills withdrew but now avoid discussing him. Party figures advocate for his withdrawal by July 13, allowing a replacement, although Platner insists on remaining in the race.
Despite controversies, prominent supporters such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren back Platner. Polls reflecting the general election remain competitive between Platner and Collins.
Collins is focusing on her local achievements, emphasizing the financial benefits she has secured for Maine through her role as Senate Appropriations Committee Chair. Last week, Collins marked her 10,000th consecutive vote in the Senate chamber, showcasing her legislative diligence.