Is Graham Platner's Maine oyster farm 'totally fake'?

Key Points:

• Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, faces accusations from Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steven Robinson and Senate Republicans claiming his oyster farming business is a "campaign prop" and "totally fake."
• Public records show Platner’s oyster farm, Waukeag Neck Oyster Co., has been legally registered since 2018, received a state-approved 20-year aquaculture lease in 2021, and obtained a $20,000 grant for equipment, indicating legitimate operations predating his campaign.
• The oyster farm’s website and social media presence were established before Platner officially launched his Senate campaign, and customer reviews, including photos of Platner working, support the authenticity of the business.
• Despite claims that Platner’s only customer is his mother’s restaurant, the oyster farm is federally authorized to sell shellfish across state lines, and Platner has publicly defended his hands-on involvement in the business.
• PolitiFact rates the claim that Platner’s oyster business is fake as false, citing extensive documentation of its legitimacy and ongoing operations.