Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is taking aim at Republican incumbent Susan Collins, accusing her of dodging tough questions about the ongoing war with Iran during a Tuesday hearing with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In a post on X, Platner wrote: "Pete Hegseth went in front of an Appropriations subcommittee today. Susan Collins is Appropriations Chair. She did not ask him even ONE question about Iran." He added: "Spineless. Susan Collins is a spineless Senator who refuses to stand up for working Mainers being crushed by costs."
The exchange comes as the U.S. war against Iran stretches beyond two months, with economic pressures mounting at home. According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular gas has climbed to roughly $4.51, and Platner warned that prices are heading toward $5. Inflation also ticked up to 4%, according to recent data.
During the Senate Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee hearing, Collins did not directly question Hegseth about the conflict. Instead, she pressed Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine on whether the Pentagon anticipated the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on oil supplies. She cited the Iran-Iraq War as historical precedent for tankers being fired upon in the strait.
Collins also questioned Hegseth about the DDG 51-class guided missile destroyer, a warship built in Maine. She expressed alarm that the budget request only funded one such ship. Hegseth responded by calling for increased shipbuilding capacity, suggesting more orders would follow if Pentagon investments yield results.
Platner’s criticism fits a broader pattern of attacks on Collins for what he calls her "symbolic opposition" to the Trump administration. While Collins has voted multiple times for war powers resolutions aimed at ending the Iran war—after initially voting against similar measures—Platner argues those votes came too late. In a separate post, he wrote: "The fruits of the war in Iran: thousands dead or wounded, gas headed towards $5/gallon, and, we learned today, 4% inflation. Susan Collins voted for this."
The Senate race in Maine has intensified since Governor Janet Mills dropped out, leaving Platner as the leading Democratic challenger. Both campaigns have released dueling ads. Meanwhile, Vance is set to rally in Maine to bolster Collins, underscoring the national stakes of the contest.
Platner’s critique also echoes broader GOP concerns about the administration’s handling of the conflict. Republican lawmakers have slammed Hegseth over Iran war strategy and the $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget, while others like McConnell have pressed him on alliance strains. Hegseth has repeatedly rejected the need for congressional approval for military action in Iran, a stance that continues to fuel debate on Capitol Hill.
The Hill has reached out to Collins’s campaign for comment but has not yet received a response.
