Maine Senate Primary Heats Up as Janet Mills Targets Graham Platner's Controversial Past

In the competitive race for Maine's Democratic Senate nomination, Governor Janet Mills has launched a new ad attacking candidate Graham Platner over past social media comments regarding sexual assault. The controversy stems from Platner's now-deleted posts, which downplayed victims' responsibility in military sexual assault cases. With the primary set for June 9, Mills aims to capitalize on a gender gap, hoping to sway female voters who may be turned off by Platner's previous remarks. Despite this, Platner has maintained a fundraising lead and garnered significant endorsements from prominent Democrats, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. As the race intensifies, both candidates are focusing on electability against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins.

Key Details: • Primary election scheduled for June 9. • Platner raised $4.6 million in Q4 2022, with $3.7 million cash on hand. • Mills raised $2.7 million in the same period, with $1.3 million cash on hand. • Maine's electorate was 59% female in the last exit poll data from 2020.