Maine Senate race: incumbent Susan Collins vs. controversial Democrat Graham Platner

Republican Senator Susan Collins is seeking a sixth term in the U.S. Senate from Maine, facing Democratic nominee Graham Platner, a military veteran and oyster farmer. Platner secured the Democratic primary with a 72% vote share but has been plagued by scandals, including a former Nazi‑style tattoo, accusations of abusive behavior toward women, and controversial online posts.

Maine Democrats are making Collins’s 2018 vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh a central campaign issue, tying it to the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade. The state party has launched low‑budget TV and print ads that feature Collins’s remarks that she does not regret the Kavanaugh vote, and it will hold a news conference with reproductive‑rights advocates on the four‑year anniversary of the Dobbs decision.

Collins has defended her record, reiterating strong support for Israel and stating she does not regret her Kavanaugh vote, though she disagrees with the court’s 2022 decision to end federal abortion protections. She emphasizes her seniority, committee leadership and a record of delivering earmarks to Maine.

Republican campaign manager Steve Abbott used a GOP unity breakfast to praise Collins and attack Platner, mocking his tattoo and questioning his character. Meanwhile, Platner received endorsement from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and has highlighted an economically populist platform aimed at working‑class voters.