The 2026 Maine Senate race: Graham Platner's Democratic primary win

Gone quiet · last story Jun 9, 2026

What this arc covers

The Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by Susan Collins in Maine: the candidates who entered, Gov. Janet Mills's entry and withdrawal, the controversies over Graham Platner's tattoo and past messages, and Platner's win in the June 9, 2026 primary.

Earliest story we hold Sep 3, 2025 · 13 stories · 57 independent sources (counted once each) · 279 days

Part ofMaineGraham PlatnerDemocratic PartyUnited States SenateJanet T. MillsSusan CollinsRuben GallegoArizona

Part of The 2026 Maine Senate race

  1. Troy Jackson vs. Susan CollinsNov 14, 2024 – Sep 27, 2026
  2. Graham Platner's Democratic primary winThis arcSep 3, 2025 – Jun 9, 2026
  3. Platner's exit and Troy Jackson's nominationJul 6 – Sep 2, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Jun 9– 102026Graham Platner wins the Democratic primary for US Senate in Maine, will face GOP Sen. Susan Collins51 articles · 34 independent sources
12 left, 9 center, 8 right
Jun 52026Graham Platner accuser Lyndsey Fifield slams NY Times for watering down bombshell story as ‘gift’ to Democrat’s campaign6 articles · 4 independent sources
0 left, 0 center, 4 right
Jun 52026Graham Platner accuser hits NYT for allegedly softening allegations, says coverage was 'gift' to Democrat5 articles · 5 independent sources
0 left, 0 center, 5 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Oct 21 – 22, 2025Maine Senate candidate Platner says tattoo recognized as Nazi symbol has been covered37 articles · 28 independent sources
  2. Apr 30, 2026Maine Gov. Janet Mills drops out of Senate race31 articles · 22 independent sources
  3. May 30 – Jun 1, 2026Platner’s wife calls news coverage of Senate hopeful’s sexually explicit texts with women ‘shameful’25 articles · 19 independent sources
  4. Jun 1 – 5, 2026Democrats navigate a new Graham Platner controversy in Maine’s battleground Senate race11 articles · 9 independent sources
    1. Jun 1, 2026Graham Platner isn't going anywhere in Maine Senate race after latest controversy
    2. Jun 2, 2026Democrats are increasingly frustrated with Graham Platner in Maine Senate race
  5. Jun 9 – 10, 2026Graham Platner wins the Democratic primary for US Senate in Maine, will face GOP Sen. Susan Collins51 articles · 34 independent sources
    1. Jun 9, 2026What to watch in Tuesday’s primaries as Graham Platner tries to clinch Senate nomination in Maine
    2. Jun 10, 2026Graham Platner wins Maine Democratic primary, will face Sen. Susan Collins

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Sep 1Oct 27Dec 22Feb 16Apr 13Jun 8

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Sep 1, 20254105
Oct 6, 20254307
Oct 13, 202543213
Oct 20, 202586835
Nov 10, 20251205
Mar 2, 20261217
Apr 27, 202667830
May 25, 202623514
Jun 1, 2026531033
Jun 8, 2026129846

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

34% left · 33% center · 33% right of 57 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 13 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. September 2025

    Sep 3Maine brewery owner joins race to take on GOP Sen. Susan Collins5 articles · 5 independent sources
    4 left, 1 center, 0 right

  2. October 2025

    Oct 10Maine Gov. Janet Mills will challenge Sen. Susan Collins in key 2026 Senate contest, AP sources say7 articles · 7 independent sources
    4 left, 3 center, 0 right
  3. Oct 14Maine Gov. Janet Mills enters crowded Democratic race to unseat Susan Collins6 articles · 6 independent sources
    2 left, 0 center, 1 right
  4. Oct 14Maine Gov. Janet Mills officially enters Senate race7 articles · 7 independent sources
    3 left, 3 center, 1 right
  5. Oct 21– 22Maine Senate candidate Platner says tattoo recognized as Nazi symbol has been covered37 articles · 28 independent sources
    8 left, 6 center, 8 right

  6. November 2025

    Nov 11Graham Platner thinks Democratic voters will overlook his past to support a new type of candidate5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right

  7. March 2026

    Mar 2Ruben Gallego backs Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner7 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right

  8. April 2026

    Apr 30Maine Gov. Janet Mills drops out of Senate race31 articles · 22 independent sources
    6 left, 7 center, 8 right

  9. May 2026

    May 30– Jun 1Platner’s wife calls news coverage of Senate hopeful’s sexually explicit texts with women ‘shameful’25 articles · 19 independent sources
    4 left, 4 center, 8 right

  10. June 2026

    Jun 1– 5Democrats navigate a new Graham Platner controversy in Maine’s battleground Senate race11 articles · 9 independent sources
    3 left, 0 center, 5 right
  11. Jun 5Graham Platner accuser Lyndsey Fifield slams NY Times for watering down bombshell story as ‘gift’ to Democrat’s campaign6 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 4 right
  12. Jun 5Graham Platner accuser hits NYT for allegedly softening allegations, says coverage was 'gift' to Democrat5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 5 right
  13. Jun 9– 10Graham Platner wins the Democratic primary for US Senate in Maine, will face GOP Sen. Susan Collins51 articles · 34 independent sources
    12 left, 9 center, 8 right