Graham Platner, a Maine oyster farmer and Democratic candidate for the Senate, is being portrayed as a "grassroots" contender capable of swaying Trump supporters.
However, a closer examination of his record reveals a more intricate narrative.
Platner, an ex-Marine with three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan under his belt, is a self-proclaimed "political novice." His campaign against the incumbent Republican Senator, Susan Collins, is centered on improving the lives of Maine's working class, as reported by the New York Times.
"I'm a veteran, oysterman, and working class Mainer who's seen this state become unlivable for working people," Platner declared in a social media post.
In an interview with the New York Times, Platner dismissed the notion of identifying as a progressive or a centrist. He scoffed at the idea of struggling to connect with Trump's supporters, stating that half of his friends and dock colleagues voted for Trump.
However, Platner's limited social media history paints a different picture. The former George Washington University student and State Department employee has been seen retweeting Senator Bernie Sanders and mocking President Trump. He has also made political donations to Vice President Kamala Harris and Sanders in the past.
Platner's political platform further underscores his progressive leanings. He advocates for corporations to pay reparations for climate change, supports universal healthcare, and accuses Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza, according to Zeteo.
His connections with prominent left-wing consultants raise questions about his appeal to the politically disenchanted. Platner's inaugural campaign ad was produced by the "Fight Agency," a Democratic media firm known for creating content for various Democratic candidates, including New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.
Morris Katz, a member of the Fight Agency and senior advisor to Mamdani, described Platner as the "real fucking deal." Katz was considered a part of Mamdani's "inner circle," according to the New York Times.
Joe Calvello, another senior advisor to Platner's campaign, has a work history that includes serving as a communications advisor for Hillary Clinton and a campaign spokesperson for Sanders.
Despite these affiliations, Platner, who is a "competitive pistol shooter" on weekends, finds it "fairly amusing" to be labeled a liberal, according to Politico.
"I'm a firearms instructor. I spent multiple years, obviously, in the service utilizing firearms. I also grew up in rural Maine, where guns are a part of our existence," he stated.
However, shortly after his campaign launch, noted gun control advocate and former Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg posted a picture with Platner, endorsing him as the "real deal" who would "make an incredible Senator."
Platner was also spotted at a No Kings rally in Ellsworth, Maine, in June, wearing a yellow construction vest with a "peacekeeper" label. The No Kings group, which organized nationwide protests, has labeled the Trump administration as "fascist" and "authoritarian."
After becoming disillusioned with his job as a State Department security contractor in Afghanistan, partly due to the misuse of taxpayer money, Platner returned to his hometown of Sullivan, Maine in 2016. He left the military and contracting behind and began working in aquaculture. With support from friends and family in the hospitality industry, Platner bought a boat and started expanding his business.
A significant portion of Platner's campaign is centered on blaming billionaires for the woes of the working class. His campaign ad is emblazoned with phrases like, "the enemy is the oligarchy" and "the enemy is billionaires."
However, when seeking additional funding for his business in early 2021, Platner turned to a fund established by a globalist billionaire. He applied for and secured a $20,000 grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Small Business Growth & Recovery Grant. The foundation was established by Greek billionaire shipping tycoon Stavros Niarchos, who was known for his global thinking long before the term 'globalization' became popular.
Platner's growing business earned him a visit from Democratic Maine Representative Jared Golden, who toured Platner's farm off Hancock Point by boat and later joined him for lunch in Ellsworth in 2024. This meeting between the two former Marines came years after Platner's $1,000 campaign donation to Golden in March 2018, according to Federal Election Commission data.
Platner's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Democrats are eyeing 2026 as an opportunity to unseat Collins, a moderate Republican and Maine's longest-serving member of Congress. Several other relatively unknown candidates have entered the Democratic primary, but the party is hopeful that Democratic Governor Janet Mills, who is term-limited from running for reelection, will enter the race.
Mills, however, has not yet committed to challenging the incumbent. Collins managed a nine-point win over Sara Gideon, the Democratic speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, in 2020, despite trailing in pre-election polling and being outspent 2-1. This victory underscores the challenge that any Democratic contender, including Platner, will face in the upcoming election.
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