Maine Senate Race

Former Top Democrat Makes Unexpected Move In Major Senate Race– trendingpoliticsnews.com

pgnewser October 21, 2026 0

Former Top Democrat Makes Unexpected Move In Major Senate Race– trendingpoliticsnews.com
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EXCERPT:

Former Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is crossing party lines to campaign alongside Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, delivering a significant boost to the GOP incumbent as she fights to retain her seat in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.

Collins’ campaign confirmed Monday that Manchin, who represented West Virginia for more than a decade before leaving the Democratic Party, will join her Wednesday for campaign appearances in Lewiston and Norway.

The unusual alliance comes just two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, when Republicans will attempt to maintain control of the Senate against a determined Democratic effort to flip several competitive seats.

Collins is seeking a sixth term against Democrat Troy Jackson, a former Maine Senate president who has attracted support from prominent progressive figures, including Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Manchin, who became an independent in 2024 before retiring from Congress, has emerged as an outspoken defender of Collins despite her Republican affiliation.

The former senator endorsed Collins in September, describing her as “the soul of the Senate” and praising her willingness to work across party lines.

VIDEO: Dem Senate Candidate Comes Out Against Voter ID In Pivotal Debate Moment– trendingpoliticsnews.com

pgnewser October 7, 2026 0

VIDEO: Dem Senate Candidate Comes Out Against Voter ID In Pivotal Debate Moment– trendingpoliticsnews.com
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EXCERPT:

During the lightning round of Tuesday’s Maine U.S. Senate debate between Republican incumbent Susan Collins and Democratic Party challenger Troy Jackson, moderator Gregg Lagerquist asked whether voters should be required to show identification at the polls. The two candidates gave wildly different answers on the topic, producing a debate moment that was widely circulated on social media.

Jackson responded to the question by announcing his unequivocal opposition to any forms of voter ID. “No, as a working logger, many times I went to the polls without my ID. No,” Jackson responded.

Collins’ answer was almost the exact opposite of her opponent’s. “Yes, only Americans should vote in American elections. I don’t think that’s too much to ask when you go to register to vote,” the senator said.

POLL: Would You Vote Against ANY Candidate Who Calls Themselves A Socialist?

Takeaways from Maine Senate debate between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser October 7, 2026 0

Takeaways from Maine Senate debate between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson– www.washingtonexaminer.com
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EXCERPT:

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) underscored her differences with President Donald Trump during Maine’s first Senate debate Tuesday, telling viewers that she is “not exactly his favorite senator.”

Collins, who is the only Republican to represent a state former Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2024, sought to distance herself from Trump and his policies on several occasions during her debate against former state Sen. Troy Jackson. The debate saw Collins pressed on the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act policies, the Iran war, tariffs, and her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Maine Democrats dismayed by new senate candidate Troy Jackson’s ‘patronizing’ Facebook posts | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com

pgnewser September 28, 2026 0

Maine Democrats dismayed by new senate candidate Troy Jackson’s ‘patronizing’ Facebook posts | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com
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EXCERPT:

The incident unfolded after members began complaining about canceled campaign events.

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson was kicked out of his own Facebook group after being “patronizing” to supporters. Jackson is now no longer a member of the “Mainers for Troy Jackson” group.

The incident unfolded after members began complaining about canceled campaign events. An account with Jackson’s name responded to the complaints by writing, “So sad,” before adding, “We have one in Belfast this weekend.”

The responses immediately prompted backlash from his followers, who accused him of being “patronizing” and “insulting.” His account was then removed from the group, and some members questioned if the account was even him.

“This cannot be Troy speaking,” one resident wrote. “He would not speak so insultingly and patronizingly to regular people let alone supporters.”

“This is horrifying,” said another user who had a profile picture of herself with Jackson.

Jackson Emerges as Maine Democrats’ Likely Senate Nominee. Can He Beat Collins?– legalinsurrection.com

pgnewser July 28, 2026 0

Jackson Emerges as Maine Democrats’ Likely Senate Nominee. Can He Beat Collins?– legalinsurrection.com
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EXCERPT:

Although it won’t become official until this weekend, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson is poised to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. With control of the upper chamber hanging in the balance, his past is certain to face intense scrutiny in the weeks ahead. Among the issues likely to draw attention are his past political alliances, electoral setbacks, and public persona.

According to Jackson’s campaign website, the fifth-generation logger from Allagash, is “ready to flip Maine’s Senate seat and unseat [Republican Sen.] Susan Collins once and for all.”

The site boasts that he’s “proven he can win — by 20 points — in a district carried by both Susan Collins and Donald Trump.” That may well be, but he just finished third in last month’s Democratic gubernatorial primary. What does that say about his statewide appeal?

The progressive Jackson was among disgraced former Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner’s most enthusiastic supporters. Like Platner, Jackson backs universal health care, federal abortion rights, abolishing ICE, ending the so-called “genocide in Gaza,” and cutting off U.S. aid to Israel.

However, when rape allegations against Platner surfaced several weeks ago, Jackson called on him to withdraw from the race.

Here’s One of the Names Being Floated As a Replacement for Graham Platner– townhall.com

pgnewser July 13, 2026 0

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The Maine Senate race has turned into a disaster for Democrats after more allegations, this time alleging rape, were dropped against Graham Platner yesterday afternoon. While Platner has not dropped out of the race yet and has not indicated what he plans to do, several prominent Democrats have withdrawn their endorsements and called on him to drop out.

That means Democrats have to find someone to run against Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Governor Janet Mills dropped out of the race ages ago, not seeing a path to victory, so it’s unclear if she’d return to try again. But there’s a report that Democrats are looking at Nirva Shah, the former Biden administration CDC Director.

Graham Platner Suspends Campaign, but What’s Next?– www.dailysignal.com

pgnewser July 12, 2026 0

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EXCERPT:

On Wednesday evening, Graham Platner suspended his campaign as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine. He had faced a growing number of scandals and loss of support, with the final straw coming Tuesday when an ex-girlfriend claimedPlatner broke into her home and raped her.

“I think as many of you know, over the past couple days, I have faced some very serious allegations and I just want to make it clear this is all false,” Platner said in his video announcement.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Posts (Then Deletes) Attack on Alleged Platner Rape Victim – RedState– redstate.com

pgnewser July 7, 2026 0

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Former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene caught some well-earned heat after she posted — and quickly deleted — a sharp attack on the woman accusing Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner of rape.

In the since-removed post, Greene questioned why the accuser, Jenny Racicot, waited years to go public and suggested she was turning past consensual encounters into “rape for politics.”

The timing is more than a little ironic, coming from the same congresswoman who had spent months positioning herself as the loudest voice for Epstein survivors, pushing hard for a full release of the files, and ripping President Trump for allegedly slow-walking accountability for the elite.

Dems ditch Graham Platner following rape allegation | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com

pgnewser July 7, 2026 0

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“Sexual violence is a red line. We are withdrawing our endorsement and calling on him to withdraw from this race.”

Multiple Democrats have pulled their endorsements of Senate candidate Graham Platner following a new report released on Monday that revealed a woman who dated him alleged he raped her. The report is the latest in a string of scandals that the Maine Democrat has faced on the campaign trail.

Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego wrote, “The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious. I am rescinding my endorsement.”

Susan Collins Keeps Edge over Democrat Graham Platner in Maine– www.breitbart.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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EXCERPT:

A Fox News poll published Tuesday shows the 2026 Maine Senate race remains tight, with incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins holding a narrow lead over Democrat Graham Platner.

The poll shows that among registered voters, Collins receives 50 percent support to Platner’s 47 percent. The race shifts among the most engaged voters. Platner leads Collins 53 percent to 44 percent among those who say they are extremely motivated to vote, fueled by higher enthusiasm among Democrats.

About 76 percent of Democrats say they are highly motivated to vote, compared to 61 percent of Republicans. The poll also found voters have concerns about both candidates, but worries about Platner run deeper. Roughly one-third of independents said they are extremely concerned about Platner’s judgment, while 30 percent said the same about Collins having served too long.

The Graham Platner Problem Is Getting Too Big for the DNC and Schumer to Ignore – RedState– redstate.com

pgnewser June 17, 2026 0

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It’s been a week since the Maine Senate primary, with the Bernie Sanders-backed Graham Platner easily winning the nomination over two other Democrats, including Schumer-backed Gov. Janet Mills, who had suspended her campaign in April but reminded folks after the sexting scandal broke that she was still on the ballot and that the votes would count.

 

With Platner, Dems Discover Their Motto: Vote For The Nazi– thefederalist.com

pgnewser June 12, 2026 0

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As more and more revelations come to the fore about Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who just won the Democrat primary this week, many Democrats seem to have adopted a simple mantra regarding his campaign: Vote for the Nazi: It’s important.

The saying echoes a slogan from campaigns past — one that supporters of Republican Sen. Susan Collins, Platner’s opponent in the general election, would do well to employ against Platner. The slogan demonstrates how Democrats will embrace a candidate — any candidate — so long as that person opposes President Trump.

Democrats close ranks around Graham Platner despite string of scandals– www.theblaze.com

pgnewser June 11, 2026 0

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EXCERPT:

Sens. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and Ed Markey (Mass.) are just the latest high-profile Democrats to throw their support behind scandal-plagued Senate candidate Graham Platner.

The progressive oyster farmer from Maine won the Democratic nomination Tuesday night, a result that was widely expected after Gov. Janet Mills (D) suspended her campaign in April. Despite Mills still appearing on the ballot, Platner managed to secure 72% of the vote share, setting up a general election against five-term incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R).

‘In November, Maine voters will elect Graham Platner, and we will win a Senate majority.’

Platner’s Victory Proves Left Doesn’t Care About Moral Deficiencies– thefederalist.com

pgnewser June 11, 2026 0

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Since he came down the escalator 11 years ago, Donald Trump’s personal conduct made him uniquely unfit for office and Americans had a moral obligation to oppose him, so said Democrats. Character mattered in politics, they told us.

But on Tuesday, nearly 150,000 Mainers sent a different message. Democrats handed Graham Platner a landslide primary victory, a decisive win for the man who had a Nazi tattoo. And to be clear, Platner wasn’t the only candidate on the ballot. Incumbent Gov. Janet Mills and former Democrat Senate nominee in 2024 David Costello were on the ballot as well. And yet it was a landslide victory for Platner.

Platner spent 18 years bearing a Nazi tattoo and only had it removed when it became ever so slightly (emphasis on slightly) politically inconvenient. He also said women worried about rape should not “get blacked out, f*cked up around people” they aren’t “comfortable” with. He also allegedly said that if someone ever broke into his home, he would “rape them … [but] not in a sexual way, not in a gay way.”

President Trump Endorses RINO Senator Susan Collins But Here’s Why– wltreport.com

pgnewser June 11, 2026 0

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EXCERPT:

Sometimes you just have to choose the lesser of two evils, and President Trump’s recent decision reflects that.

On Wednesday, President Trump announced he has endorsed Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine’s upcoming Senate election.

Collins has been labeled by many conservatives as a RINO after she voted to Impeach Trump in 2021 for “inciting an insurrection.”

While taking questions from the press inside the Oval Office, Trump was asked if he would be endorsing Collins, who is running against Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, to which Trump responded that he would be supporting her despite the two having different ideologies.

Democrat Endorses Susan Collins In Maine Senate Race– crooksandliars.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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No, Jake Auchincloss did not mouth the words “I support Susan Collins and go vote for her instead,” but that’s essentially what he did yesterday with his appearance on CNN. Bad-mouthing the presumptive Democratic nominee in a Senate seat that the Democrats absolutely need to gain control of the U.S. Senate is beyond stupid. Still, it’s always worth reminding ourselves that Republicans don’t have a monopoly on stupid politicians. Almost, but not quite.

Source: Mediaite

Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) trashed his party’s presumptive nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine, Graham Platner, on Monday, calling the Democratic candidate’s Nazi tattoo scandal and his claims about it “personally disqualifying.”

The controversy stems from a report last year that Platner had a tattoo on his chest of a Nazi SS “Totenkopf” symbol. Platner has since covered the tattoo and denied knowingly displaying Nazi imagery, saying he got the tattoo with fellow Marines during a trip to Croatia in 2007 and did not understand its meaning at the time.

Auchincloss had previously become one of the first elected Democrats to publicly urge Platner to abandon the Senate contest against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) after the tattoo controversy surfaced.

Platner Embarrasses Himself at Bernie Rally, Gets Blasted by Fellow Democrat – RedState– redstate.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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Dems dug themselves a big hole with their presumptive candidate for Senate in Maine, and he proved that again during his rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Monday.

Sanders was all in, supporting Platner at the “Fighting Oligarchy” rally in Portland, Maine.

“The last time, well, before last night, I shared a state with Senator Standers, it was here in Portland, 13 days after we had launched this campaign. It felt surreal then, and to tell you the truth, it still feels as surreal today.”

Democrat Candidate Slammed For Calling Purple Heart Recipient ‘Dumb Motherf***er’ Who Didn’t ‘Deserve To Live’– wltreport.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 1

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EXCERPT:

The stories of troubling past comments and behavior keep surfacing in the campaign of US Senate candidate Graham Platner, a Democrat from Maine.

After an initial controversy surrounding a tattoo that appeared to depict Nazi symbolism, he attracted backlash for unearthed explicit Reddit posts that many described as disturbing.

Now, more of his previous online musings are coming to light, and these are particularly objectionable, as Breitbart reported:

“This video never gets old,” Platner wrote in a June 2019 Reddit post, referring to a viral video featuring Pfc. Ted Daniels in a 2012 firefight with the Taliban, which resulted in the soldier being shot four times and earning a Purple Heart for his injuries.

“Dumb motherfucker didn’t deserve to live,” the Democrat Senate hopeful — whose archived Reddit rants can be found on the Maine Monitor’s database — said in his since-deleted post.

Platner went on to write, “At least his stupidity and fat ass wheezing are available for all future infantrymen to witness and hold in contempt.”

“Poor marksmanship on the Taliban’s part is the only reason this mouthbreather made it home, he managed to make every possible shit decision possible when it comes to small unit combat,” Platner added.

The unearthed posts come from a deleted, but archived, Reddit account known as “P-Hustle,” which Platner previously acknowledged was his.

Widow of ‘American Sniper’ Chris Kyle Hits Back Against Dem Senate Candidate for ‘Making Things Up’– www.westernjournal.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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Taya Kyle, widow of the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, accused Maine Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner of making things up regarding her husband.

During a 2024 podcast interview, Platner claimed that Kyle ran up his kill count by shooting unarmed civilians while he served in a unit known as Task Force Bruiser.

“[Kyle’s] stories about how many people he was shooting certainly tracked with the behavior I witnessed [in Ramadi, Iraq]. It’s relatively easy to get high numbers like that if you’re a little less discriminating in your fire than, say, a more professional unit would be,” Platner said.