Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has canceled his participation in all upcoming primary debates following Governor Janet Mills’ decision this week to suspend her campaign for the seat currently held by Republican Senator Susan Collins. Platner, a progressive outsider and oyster farmer, had been slated to face Mills and fellow Democrat David Costello in several forums, but his campaign informed the Portland Press Herald on Friday that he is stepping back to devote his efforts to the general election.
The move effectively ends what was shaping up to be a competitive primary. CBS 13, which had planned to host one of the debates later this month, confirmed the change. Costello, a former state government official, expressed disappointment, saying on X: “I get the Platner camp’s logic in withdrawing from the 5 scheduled debates, yet this move cuts short important policy discussions and conversations and shortchanges Maine voters, most of whom haven’t fully focused on June’s primary election. I hope he’ll reconsider.”
Platner had built a commanding lead in the Democratic primary, topping Mills by 30 points in Decision Desk HQ’s polling averages, with Costello trailing both. Mills, who was widely seen as a top recruit for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, cited financial constraints as the reason for her exit. “I do not have the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources,” she said Thursday.
Though Mills did not endorse Platner, he praised her and said he looks forward to “working closely with her between now and November” to flip the seat. Since her withdrawal, Democratic support has rapidly consolidated behind Platner, with Schumer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee joining progressive Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders—both earlier backers—in endorsing him. Platner also announced a slate of new endorsements on Thursday.
The race is rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, and national Democrats are now rallying around Platner as their best chance to unseat Collins. However, Republicans are projecting confidence, pointing to controversies surrounding Platner’s campaign. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, declared that Schumer and Senate Democrats “just coronated a phony who is too extreme for Maine.”
Platner’s decision to skip the debates comes as Maine Democrats unite behind the oyster farmer following Mills’ exit. Meanwhile, Mills’ cash shortfall dealt a blow to Schumer’s recruitment strategy, raising internal doubts about the party’s path forward in Maine. Platner has also vowed to “tear down the system”, a message that resonates with progressive voters but alarms centrists.
With the primary effectively decided, Platner now turns his attention to a general election battle against Collins, a four-term incumbent who has proven resilient in a state that has trended blue. The contest is expected to be one of the most expensive and closely watched Senate races in the country.
