Platner wins Maine Democratic Senate primary, vows to oust Collins
Al Jazeera • • nation
Key Points:
- Graham Platner, a U.S. Army veteran and oyster farmer, won the Maine Democratic Senate primary, setting up a competitive race against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins.
- Platner's campaign has faced controversies including allegations of inappropriate conduct with women, past offensive online posts, and a tattoo identified as a Nazi symbol, which he has since covered and apologized for.
- Despite the controversies, Platner emphasized a message of redemption and pledged to challenge Collins on her record, criticizing her support for conservative Supreme Court justices and military actions.
- Collins, unopposed in the Republican primary, highlighted her experience and role as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee as key reasons for her re-election, focusing on delivering benefits to Maine communities.
- Ranked-choice voting will be used to finalize results in Maine's Democratic gubernatorial primary and 2nd Congressional District race, where the eventual nominee will face former Governor Paul LePage.