The race for Maine’s Senate seat in 2026 is heating up early, and the Democratic Party is already embroiled in a messy civil war, with tensions rising between the establishment and the more hard-left socialist factions. While the primary isn’t until June 9th, 2026, the drama has already begun to unfold in the public eye, providing plenty of entertainment for political observers.
As we reported in mid-October, Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) threw her hat into the ring, despite concerns about her age (77), stamina, and her ability to attract younger voters. In an attempt to quell these worries, Mills stated in an interview, "Honestly, I would not plan to serve for more than one term. But this time is vital, and this moment in our history is urgent and very troublesome." Political insiders, however, know how those "one-term" promises often end once someone is in office and enjoying the perks of power.
However, Mills’ path to the nomination is not guaranteed. She faces competition, with Bernie Sanders-backed candidate Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and military veteran, emerging as a significant challenger. Platner, who is promoted as a "working-class" candidate despite lacking political experience, has gained support from Sanders and his followers. He’s positioned himself as someone who can take on long-serving Republican Senator Susan Collins (R). But, like many rising political stars, Platner has found himself embroiled in a series of self-inflicted controversies that are quickly undermining his campaign.
Platner’s past Reddit comments, dating back to 2013 and as recent as 2021, have surfaced, causing a stir. In these posts, Platner referred to himself as a "communist," called all police "bastards," and made disparaging comments about rural White Americans, calling them "racist and stupid." Platner’s attempts to downplay these remarks by claiming he’s a different person now haven’t done much to quell the backlash.
Additionally, a new controversy has emerged involving a tattoo Platner reportedly got due to its alleged Nazi connotations, adding fuel to the fire.
The question arises: should politicians be held accountable for their past online comments, especially if they date back years? Democrats certainly seem to think so, given how they combed through Brett Kavanaugh’s 1983 yearbook during his confirmation battle. So, it seems fair game to scrutinize Platner’s past posts, especially considering the high stakes of a primary campaign.
The infighting within the Democratic Party is only getting more entertaining as we approach 2026. With Platner’s campaign unraveling due to his own missteps and Mills' challenges in rallying the younger vote, it’s clear that the battle for Maine’s Senate seat is far from settled. Let the Democratic chaos continue—it’s a spectacle worth watching.
