Marine veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner secured the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Maine with 72% of the vote, defeating Governor Janet Mills. He will face incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in the general election despite revelations about his past.
Maine voters cast ballots in a primary election featuring a high-stakes US Senate race that has drawn national attention, with Democrats seeking to challenge an incumbent in a contest that could influence Senate control.
Political action committees have spent nearly $9 million in Maine's gubernatorial primary contests, with over half of that spending occurring in the past three weeks as both parties' nomination races remain uncertain ahead of the election.
Maine's Graham Platner visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday for meetings with Democratic senators following reports that emerged over the weekend. No senators have withdrawn their support for him despite the fresh controversy.
Republican candidate Jonathan Bush and other gubernatorial candidates are making their final appeals to voters with one week remaining until Maine's Election Day. Bush toured Volk Packaging in Biddeford as part of his closing campaign push.
New campaign finance data reveals which candidates have spent the most money in Maine's gubernatorial race, with Democratic candidates Hannah Pingree and Troy Jackson among those competing for their party's nomination.
Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner's campaign has confirmed he sent sexually explicit text messages to multiple women during his marriage, according to information his wife shared with the campaign. The scandal threatens his insurgent campaign to unseat longtime Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in Maine.
Democratic candidate Graham Platner has raised and spent more money than incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine's U.S. Senate race. Platner's heavy spending reflects both his contentious Democratic primary battle with Governor Janet Mills, who exited the race on April 30, and his anticipated November general election matchup with Collins.
The Maine Ethics Commission agreed to investigate a website attacking Republican gubernatorial candidate Ben Midgley, who is competing against six other candidates including Bobby Charles in the June 9 Republican primary for governor.
New polling confirms Bobby Charles maintains frontrunner status in the Republican primary for Maine governor, with Jonathan Bush and possibly Garrett Mason as his main competitors. Charles is described as both a frontrunner and a pariah within the party.
Recent polling shows Nirav Shah leading Maine's Democratic gubernatorial primary, while Graham Platner holds a seven-point advantage over Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the general election Senate race. The Pan Atlantic Research Survey indicates competitive races ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.
Republican candidates for Maine governor attacked rival Bobby Charles for skipping a debate at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, with one suggesting he might be in bed. The debate was moderated by Steve Robinson, editor in chief of The Maine Wire.
Maine Governor Janet Mills suspended her U.S. Senate campaign on April 30, 2026, citing lack of financial resources. Her exit effectively hands the Democratic nomination to Graham Platner, a 41-year-old military veteran and oyster farmer, who will face Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in a race crucial to Democrats' hopes of winning Senate control.
Campaign finance reports show Chellie Pingree and an unnamed Bush leading their respective party fundraising efforts in Maine's gubernatorial race, with primaries scheduled for June 9, 2026. The money race features a competitive Democratic contest and well-funded Republican candidates.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Jim Libby withdrew from Maine's 2026 governor's race after the state's campaign finance watchdog denied his clean elections funding application, citing numerous problems with his campaign's paperwork and allegations of fraud.
All eight Republican candidates for Maine governor participated in a debate at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on March 24, 2026, addressing issues including organized crime, affordability, education, and fraud and corruption.
