Maine's Senate race is heating up as Democrat Graham Platner makes a controversial call after primary rival Governor Janet Mills pulls out. Platner, a progressive outsider and oyster farmer, will now focus on unseating Republican Sen Susan Collins. The 41-year-old Democrat has decided to pull out of the upcoming Democratic primary debates, citing a focus on beating Collins in November.
However, this move has sparked backlash from fellow Democrat David Costello, who was scheduled to debate Platner. Costello expressed disappointment, stating that the debates were an important opportunity for policy discussions and conversations with Maine voters.
Platner's controversies continue to follow him, including a now-deleted Reddit profile where he praised Hamas's military tactics. He also faced scrutiny over a chest tattoo resembling the Nazi Totenkopf symbol, which he covered up with a Celtic knot design.
The Republican party has committed tens of millions of dollars to backing Collins in the general election, making this one of the hardest-fought nationwide this cycle.
