Maine's Governor, two-termed out of office, seeking further politician's comfort -
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| https://www.instagram.com/kenklipp/p/DQfBn1vjqN9/ |
Click that image if you care to, but the message is -
77-year old Maine Governor Janet Mills, running for Senate (and backed by Chuck Schumer) has refused to release medical records to address questions about her age. If elected, Mills would end her first term at age 85 and would be the oldest first-term Senator in U.S. history.
The other 41 yr old front runner for Senator from Maine to Replace 72 yr old Susan Collins =
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| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Platner |
Analysis
Platner's Wiki bio excerpts -
Military
Platner enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after graduating from high school in 2003.[9] He attended the Marine Corps School of Infantry, then deployed to Iraq in 2005.[4] He served a total of eight years in the military, including three combat tours in Iraq, in areas including Ramadi and Fallujah.[10] Asked why he served in the Iraq War after protesting it, Platner said, "I thought I could do some good. And I wanted to play soldier. I might have read too much Hemingway."[11]
After four years in the military, Platner enrolled at George Washington University, funded by the G.I. Bill.[9] Shortly after starting school, he enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard and served an additional tour of duty in the war in Afghanistan.[12][13] He returned to Washington in 2011, resuming classes at GWU and working as a bartender at the Tune Inn on Capitol Hill.[14][15] From 2011 to 2016 he alternated between living in D.C. and military deployments, before withdrawing from GWU and returning to Maine in 2016 for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and other military-related injuries.[13][9][11][16]
In 2018, Platner returned to Kabul, Afghanistan, for about six months as a State Department security contractor with Constellis, the private military company formerly known as Blackwater, where he provided diplomatic security to the US ambassador to Afghanistan.[17][10][18][19] He returned to Maine the same year, saying he had quickly grown more disillusioned with the military and what he called fraudulent funneling of taxpayer money to private defense companies.[12][9]
[...] U.S. Senate campaign
Platner launched his Senate campaign on August 19, 2025, with a video produced by Morris Katz, a senior adviser and admaker for New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.[26][21] In the video, Platner highlights his military and working-class credentials, while criticizing his prospective opponent in harsh terms:[27]
I did four infantry tours in the Marine Corps and the Army. I'm not afraid to name an enemy. And the enemy is the oligarchy. It's the billionaires who pay for it, and the politicians who sell us out. And yeah, that means politicians like Susan Collins.
This video received 2.5 million views in its first 24 hours, sparking national media attention.[28][29] The campaign raised $1 million in its first nine days, and reported amassing over 2,700 volunteers.[30]
Senator Bernie Sanders endorsed Platner on August 30, ahead of a Fighting Oligarchy tour appearance in Portland with Platner and Maine gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson.[31][32] The event had originally been scheduled to be held in an auditorium but had to be moved to a much larger arena due to high public interest.[33][34
[... keep reading into next block] On October 27, 2025, Platner's campaign manager Kevin Brown resigned, citing family reasons. On October 31, Platner's campaign finance director, Ronald Holmes, resigned.[39] His political director, Genevieve McDonald, also resigned in October, and in November his campaign treasurer, Victoria Perrone, was replaced by Ben Martello.[40]
Reddit comments and tattoo
In October 2025, various news outlets reported on Reddit posts Platner made between 2013 and 2021 in which he called himself a "communist", wrote that all cops are bastards, and agreed with a post calling rural white Americans "racist and stupid". In an interview with CNN, Platner said of those comments, "That was very much me fucking around the internet ... I don't think any of that is indicative of who I am today".[41] In a 2013 Reddit discussion about anti-rape underwear, Platner wrote that people worried about assault should "take some responsibility for themselves and not get so fucked up they wind up having sex with someone they don't mean to".[42] He also referenced political violence in multiple posts; in 2018, he wrote: "Fight until you get tired of fighting with words and then fight with signs, and fists, and guns if need be." Platner also wrote that "an armed working class is a requirement for economic justice" and urged readers to "Get Armed, Get Organized. The Other Side Sure As Hell Is."[41][43] He has said that many of the comments do not represent his current political beliefs, and that they were the product of disillusionment after his military discharge and struggles with PTSD.[44][45]
Collins called Platner's internet history "terrible" and "offensive".[46] Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said that while he did not approve of Platner's comments, he did not consider them "disqualifying".[47]
In an interview on Pod Save America, Platner addressed claims that a skull-and-bones tattoo on his chest resembles the Totenkopf, a symbol worn by the Nazi Schutzstaffel paramilitary organization. Platner said that he and some other Marines got the tattoo while on leave in Croatia in 2007, not knowing its symbolism.[48] While acknowledging the resemblance, he said he had not been aware of it until reporters and political operatives from DC contacted him during his campaign. He said he had recently gotten it covered up.[49][50] An unnamed acquaintance of Platner's has claimed that Platner was aware that the tattoo was a Nazi symbol.[51][52] Maine Governor Janet Mills, one of Platner's opponents in the Democratic primary, called the tattoo "abhorrent". She said, "I obviously vehemently disagree with the things he's been quoted as saying and doing" but that it was "up to the people" to decide whether he should continue in the Senate race.[53]
Political views
Platner has been characterized as a populist and a progressive.[12][21][27] He has received attention for focusing on economic issues facing working-class Americans, and for being willing to criticize the Democratic Party establishment.[54] His platform includes focusing on housing affordability, universal healthcare through Medicare for All, and ending US involvement in overseas wars.[15][31][22]
Platner has explicitly declined to be identified as progressive or liberal, saying, "I think it's silly that thinking people deserve health care, that makes you some kind of lefty. But I do think those working-class policies are necessary."[15][26] He has highlighted his support for gun rights as a point where he differs from mainstream liberals,[21] and said that many of his friends and colleagues voted for Donald Trump.[26] In The American Prospect, Austin Ahlman called Platner part of "a growing wave of populist Senate candidates who are challenging modern understandings of political labels by forefronting anti-establishment, anti-corporate, and distinctly localist politics and policies".[29] Platner has cited Senator Bernie Sanders as a political influence.[15] He has also credited Frances Perkins, who served as Secretary of Labor under Franklin D. Roosevelt, and labor organizer Jane McAlevey as inspirations.[25][16]
Platner has criticized what he calls "the oligarchy", an economic and political system controlled by and benefiting the ultra-wealthy at the expense of everyone else. He advocates for higher taxes on billionaires and large corporations, and more support for the working class.[12][55] At a Labor Day rally headlined by Sanders, Platner said, "We do not live in a system that is broken. We live in a system that is functioning exactly as it's intended. We live in a system that has been built by the political class to enrich and support billionaires on the backs of working people."[55]
Platner has called the Gaza genocide "the ultimate moral test of our time", and has strongly criticized the Democratic Party establishment for not doing enough to counter Trump administration policies such as mass deportation and support for Israel's war in Gaza.[12][9][56][57] He has criticized the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC, and pledged not to take campaign contributions from it "or any group that supports the genocide in Gaza".[58][27] Republicans and conservative outlets[59] have called Platner "Maine's Mamdani", referencing the democratic socialist mayor-elect of New York City, and have criticized Platner's outspoken criticism of Israel and its actions in Gaza. Platner called the comments "absurd".[60]
Platner credits his military experience with forming his populist politics.[12] He has called US "military adventurism" "a mechanism of moving taxpayer dollars into the private bank accounts of defense companies, all on the backs of frankly working-class men and women, and on the backs of the people living in societies that we took the wars to".[12] Platner stated that his veterans' healthcare and disability benefits have enabled him to run his small business, and argues that all Americans should have access to increased social welfare regardless of military service.[32]
He has a more moderate stance on gun regulation than some Democrats, recognizing the importance of firearms in Maine's hunting and rural communities. When asked about his position on gun control after the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting, he expressed support for red flag laws, provided they are "written in such a way that they don't impede the ability of legal gun owners to have access to their firearms".[60] Platner reportedly provided firearms instruction in the past for the Maine chapter of the Socialist Rifle Association.[6]
Asked about his stance on LGBTQ rights, Platner said, "I stand right in the fucking way of anyone who's going to try to come after the freedoms of the LGBTQIA+ community."[61]
Personal life
Platner lives in Sullivan, Maine.[23] He married his wife, Amy Gertner, in the autumn of 2024.[4] Gertner was an elementary and middle school art teacher until 2024, when she became the business manager for Waukeag Neck Oyster Co.[4][16] Platner is a competitive pistol shooter and firearms instructor.[21] Much of Platner's extended family is Jewish,[62] and his stepbrother lives in Jerusalem.[63]
Rather than only excerpt highlighted segments, a large quote was thought best to assure context.
Schumer, Gillibrand, and their candidate are the oligharchy Platner criticizes.
They, each separtely and together represent the system Platner described in saying:
"We do not live in a system that is broken. We live in a system that is functioning exactly as it's intended. We live in a system that has been built by the political class to enrich and support billionaires on the backs of working people."[55]
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First-time Senate candidate, 77, refuses to release medical records fueling nightmare Biden flashbacks
An elderly Democratic candidate for Senate is under fire for not releasing her medical records as age has become a defining political consideration.
Maine Governor Janet Mills, 77, has not committed to releasing her medical records ahead of the state's 2026 Senate election, according to Axios.
Should she win the competition, Mills would become the oldest freshman senator elected in US history. Mills would take office at 79 if she wins.
Incumbent Senator Susan Collins, a Republican who has held the seat since 1997, would take office at 74 if she were to win. Collins has not offered her medical records either.
Democrats have been dogged by criticisms over elderly candidates since the party propped up former President Joe Biden's failed presidential run.
After Biden's disastrous debate performance against President Donald Trump in the summer of 2024, and subsequent lingering in the race before withdrawing, liberal voters have much to be wary of when it comes to older candidates.
But that has not stopped the decidedly old lawmakers from retaining power.
Newsweek -
Nov 05, 2025 at 02:30 PM EST
updated
Nov 05, 2025 at 03:53 PM EST
Nationwide victories for Democrats on Tuesday, including two high-profile gubernatorial races, the New York City mayoral election and the approval of California’s redistricting map, are fueling party optimism as it seeks to recover from heavy 2024 losses and regain the House majority in the 2026 midterms.
Democrat Jay Jones' electoral victory in Virginia’s attorney general clash came weeks after leaked text messages surfaced in which he fantasized about killing a Republican lawmaker and his family. The texts ignited a scandal that drew bipartisan condemnation.
Several political strategists have said that Jones’ win despite the late-breaking controversy could be a good sign for Maine Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner, who is contending with his own backlash over a tattoo and past social media posts. One strategist, Alex Patton, told Newsweek that "voters forgive plenty these days."
However, another strategist, Carter Wrenn, told Newsweek, "to argue Jones winning means scandals and faux-pas no longer matter sounds like a bit of a stretch."
Newsweek reached out to several political strategists for comment via email on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Jones winning a prominent statewide position despite the controversy shows that voters might be willing to overlook scandals plaguing candidates while at the ballot box.
Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer and political newcomer running for Maine's U.S. Senate seat, is under fire from some over one of his tattoos and political social media posts that have since been deleted.
The Jones victory comes amid a political landscape that has shifted regarding cancel culture and the intensity and lasting effects of political bruises.
[...] Doug Gordon, co-founder of Upshift strategies, told Newsweek in an email: “You don’t need an advanced degree in political science to figure out why Democrats, including Jay Jones despite his offensive texts, had such a good night. Donald Trump and Republicans ran on, and won, in 2024 on lowering prices and fixing an economy that is not working for the vast majority of Americans. And instead of delivering on what they ran on, we have secret police disappearing people off the streets, Trump’s relentless focus on retribution against his opponents, the literal destruction of the White House and Trump and his cronies enriching themselves. All while the economy has not improved and prices have increased. This election was a complete and total rejection of the policies and the priorities of the Republican Party. And in the end, that was more important to voters than some offensive texts.”
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Platner's campaign site, on the issues = https://www.grahamforsenate.com/platform
His donate page = https://secure.actblue.com/donate/platner_website
Checks can be mailed to:
Graham for Maine
PO Box 570, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Whether using the actblue page (where actblue takes a percentage) or using snail mail, the same rules/limitations apply -
Contribution rules
- I am a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident (i.e., green card holder).
- This contribution is made from my own funds, and funds are not being provided to me by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution.
- I am at least eighteen years old.
- I am not a federal contractor.
- I am making this contribution with my own personal credit card and not with a corporate or business credit card or a card issued to another person.
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Think you've seen enough? There is the Mills situation -
In her launch video, Mills highlighted her recent fight with President Donald Trump over transgender sports and accused Collins of enabling him. “I won’t sit idly by while Maine people suffer and politicians like Susan Collins bend the knee as if this were normal,” Mills said.
Despite initial hesitation, the governor started interviewing staff and telling local reporters she was seriously considering a bid last month.
She addressed that long contemplation in her announcement, saying in the video, “Honestly, if this president and this Congress were doing things that were even remotely acceptable, I wouldn’t be running for the U.S. Senate.”
The race sets up the latest generational clash for a party struggling to find its footing after losing the White House and both branches of Congress last year.
Politico = Chuck Schumer gets his preferred candidate, Janet Mills, in crowded Maine Senate race -- Schumer had been aggressively recruiting Mills to challenge Republican Susan Collins.
In her launch video, [dead link? as noted below, her campaign site has a video] Mills highlighted her recent fight with President Donald Trump over transgender sports and accused Collins of enabling him. “I won’t sit idly by while Maine people suffer and politicians like Susan Collins bend the knee as if this were normal,” Mills said.
Despite initial hesitation, the governor started interviewing staff and telling local reporters she was seriously considering a bid last month.
She addressed that long contemplation in her announcement, saying in the video, “Honestly, if this president and this Congress were doing things that were even remotely acceptable, I wouldn’t be running for the U.S. Senate.”
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Mills Senate campaign site = https://janetmills.com/
She has a campaign video linked from the opening page, with creepy music and noise, and identifying herself as a second generation politician. She's against Trump and Susan Collins, not liking bullies she says. It may be error, but no ISSUES page could be located by Crabgrass.
HuffPo =https://www.huffpost.com/entry/maine-senate-janet-mills-platner_n_68eff6bde4b061265b2b21a5
WASHINGTON — Senate Democratic leadership is all-in on Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ run to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Rank-and-file Democratic senators don’t seem as certain. Very few were eager to instantly back the 77-year-old Mills, who will have to defeat progressive oyster farmer Graham Platner in a primary to battle Collins in the general, and many seemed loath to discuss a race Democratic operatives expect to poison social media timelines for the next year.
The unease about the race — and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s decision to intervene by backing Mills — extends to both progressives and moderates, and showcases how the Democratic Party is still torn over its ideological direction and the age of its leaders in the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election.
“I think Janet Mills is a formidable candidate. I feel very optimistic that we will defeat Susan Collins,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), the chair of the DSCC, told HuffPost. Asked if a bruising primary would harm Democrats’ odds of flipping the seat, Gillibrand said: “My general view is that primaries make candidates stronger.”
But Gillibrand was not joined by many of her colleagues in unequivocally backing Mills. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), who has carved out a lane as a leading moderate since the 2024 election, was the only Democratic senator to explicitly endorse her.
Similarly, many leading progressive senators — including Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Chris Murphy of Massachusetts — declined to weigh in on the race when HuffPost asked. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota, who is retiring, told HuffPost the DSCC should stay out of the race entirely.
“The DSCC shouldn’t be engaging in primary battles,” retiring Smith told HuffPost. “If the [DSCC] thinks that they know better than the voters of Maine, they’re wrong. It’s up to the voters to decide.”
Both Platner and Mills tried to claim momentum on Wednesday, one day after Mills’ entrance into the race earned her quick endorsements from EMILY’s List and caused political handicappers to move the race against Collins from “lean Republican” to “toss-up” status. Mills announced she had raised $1 million in the first 24 hours of her campaign, while Platner said he had raised $500,000 and rolled out an endorsement from United Auto Workers, which represents employees at Bath Iron Works in the state.
Democratic senators, who are old enough, on average, to qualify for Social Security benefits, did mostly brush aside concerns about Mills’ age, even if they did not want to endorse her. Mills would be the oldest freshman senator ever if she is elected next year. She’s pledged to only serve one term if that happens, a move that is likely aimed at cutting off questions about her age. [...]
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Mills in her video is running as not Trump, took him to court and won. Beyond that and opposing Collins, it speaks for itself.
Platner's video notes issues, more than being "not Trump."
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As to big buck spending being anticipated against Platner: https://x.com/TrackAIPAC/status/1960796854091964536
That wraps it up. Mills is the AIPAC choice. Platner is not.
________________UPDATE________________
Forgot two things,
Gillibrand - Mamdami, it speaks for itself.
EMILYs List Congratulates Kirsten Gillibrand On Her Appointment as Next DSCC Chair - January 6, 2025
If you want to think Dem establishment Inner Party - Think DCCC and EMILYs List. They don't take chances. They don't mention Oligarchs.
____________FURTHER UPDATE_____________
One way voters in Maine, and Crabgrass readers worldwide, can think of Platner = the anti-Hegseth. Both served, both tattooed, one's a total scary creep, the other is liked by Bernie.
Do you think Palantir might feel it has a dog in the hunt? Along with AIPAC? Or would they prefer, "a dude?"
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