Graham Platner, a first-time Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, is using trivia nights, happy hours at breweries and community gatherings to build support ahead of the June 9 primary. The 41-year-old oyster farmer and military veteran is challenging Gov. Janet Mills for the Democratic nomination, with the winner set to face five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race that could help determine Senate control.
At a recent trivia night in Kittery, a small seaside town on the border with New Hampshire, supporters gathered at a local community center to answer questions about Platner's background — from his dog's name to the nature of a controversy over a tattoo he received while in the Marines. The event featured soda, cookies and music from Dropkick Murphys, a Boston punk band that Platner likes.
The campaign has hosted 50 town halls across Maine from its August announcement through the end of March, according to campaign data. Events include traditional canvassing, phone-banking training, happy hours at breweries and poster-making before No Kings protests.
What the Right Is Saying
Moderate Democrats and supporters of Gov. Janet Mills say it is too risky to nominate an untested candidate in a race that could determine control of the Senate. They point to Mills' record as the only Democrat to have won statewide in Maine in 20 years.
Mills campaign spokesperson Tommy Garcia said voters trust Mills because she has delivered progress for Maine people. "As the only Democrat to have won statewide in 20 years, voters trust Janet Mills, they know she is the only candidate who has delivered progress for Maine people, and they see her leading our state every single day," Garcia said.
Collins spokesperson Blake Kernen defended the incumbent senator's approach to constituent engagement, saying she prefers smaller group meetings rather than large town halls. "Town halls are often organized by partisan or dark money groups," Kernen said. "She prefers smaller group meetings, rather than holding town halls where very few people get to speak, and the level of civility is often not that high."
Political analysts say historical precedent favors the known candidate in Maine Democratic primaries. Michael Franz, a government professor with Bowdoin College, described Platner as "a high-risk, high-reward type of candidate" who may either emerge as a national figure or end up with around 42% of the vote.
Mills has the backing of Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and other national Democrats who view her as the safer general election nominee in a state with one of the oldest voting populations in the country, where voters have historically elected moderate politicians.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive supporters and progressive Democrats say Platner's populist message and willingness to be transparent about past mistakes make him an compelling candidate in a Democratic Party increasingly open to candidates who are not purely polished political figures.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat who has endorsed Platner, cited the current political environment as favorable to Platner's candidacy. "In this environment, you know, where we have people like Donald Trump in public office who have done terrible things, there is more appetite in the Democratic Party to have people that are not just purely polished and have been on an election track their whole lives," Heinrich said.
Megan Smith, a community organizer with the Maine People's Alliance, an advocacy group that has endorsed Platner, said voters in the state bristle at the idea of outsiders telling them who to nominate. "Mainers are kind of stubborn and we don't like to be told what to do," she said. "They're not thrilled to have D.C. Democrats weighing in on our primaries."
Supporters argue Platner's accessibility sets him apart from his opponents. "He's bringing an energy of wanting to create something in this race, win or lose. He wants to create a lasting connection in communities where people can get together and can actually talk to their neighbors face to face again," Smith said.
Beth Knight, a 63-year-old teacher who attended the trivia night in Kittery, said Platner's campaign gave her a place to channel her political energy. "I believe he has a true redemption story," Knight said.
What the Numbers Show
According to an analysis by AdImpact, Platner has significantly outspent Mills on advertising since entering the race in August — $4.8 million compared with Mills' $1.5 million.
Maine has one of the oldest voting populations in the country, with a median age that trends older than most states. The state's Democratic primary voters have historically shown a preference for known candidates, often incumbents with established records.
Platner hosted 50 town halls across Maine from his August campaign announcement through the end of March. The Mills and Collins campaigns both said they do not hold traditional town halls, with Collins preferring smaller group meetings.
The June 9 primary will determine the Democratic nominee who faces Collins in what is expected to be a competitive general election that could influence Senate control.
The Bottom Line
Graham Platner's campaign has generated significant enthusiasm among progressive voters through aggressive community engagement, but he faces a challenging path against Gov. Janet Mills, who has the support of national Democrats and historical advantages in Maine primaries. The outcome will likely depend on whether voters prioritize Platner's populist message and transparency about past mistakes over Mills' established record as a statewide winner. With advertising spending heavily favoring Platner but polls likely to favor the incumbent, the June primary will test whether a high-risk, high-reward candidate can overcome historical precedent in Maine's Democratic primary electorate.