Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), announced Monday that she is running to succeed her brother in the U.S. Senate.
Nordone announced her decision to enter the race during an interview with <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2079270238902693913?s=20">Fox News host Sean Hannity.</a>
“I’m in,” Nordone told Hannity on Monday, acknowledging &#8220;a tremendous amount of pressure&#8221; around the decision.
&#8220;I have been praying a lot, talking to my family, but with the love of my family, with the support of his staff, I know I’m a hard worker. I learned that from Lindsey. He cared about the people of this state. I worked for almost 30 years for the people of this state, I feel like I can do it,” she said. 
“I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes. Absolutely,” she added. 
Nordone&#8217;s announcement comes days after President Donald Trump endorsed her before she had publicly announced her candidacy. 
<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116936914779266256">In a Truth Social post</a>, Trump backed Nordone to run in the August 11 special GOP primary, telling her: “RUN, DARLINE, RUN!”
“She is a spectacular person, and a true American Patriot,” Trump said about Nordone. “Lindsey was one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, and his sister shares his deep love of our Country, and the State of South Carolina.”
<a href="https://www.dgraham.senate.gov/">Nordone</a> earned a bachelor&#8217;s degree in sociology from the College of Charleston and a master&#8217;s degree in rehabilitation counseling from South Carolina State University. She later worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and served on the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
Graham unexpectedly died earlier this month at his Capitol Hill home in what the medical examiner’s office believes was an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lindsey-graham-medical-examiner-releases-preliminary-cause-of-death">aortic dissection</a>. Before collapsing, Graham reportedly told a staffer he was experiencing chest pain. 
Graham had easily won his Republican primary in June before his sudden death upended the race. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman are among the prominent Republicans considering a run.
Other potential candidates are clearing the way for Graham’s sister. Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who got fourth place in the recent gubernatorial primary, announced late Monday that she wouldn&#8217;t run.
&#8220;I want to be straight with you. I&#8217;m not running for the U.S. Senate, not because I&#8217;m backing down from a fight, but because the one I&#8217;m already in matters right now,&#8221; Mace <a href="https://x.com/NancyMace/status/2079301034476724673?s=20">said</a>. &#8220;I&#8217;m not chasing another title. I&#8217;m chasing justice, justice for me, justice for other women, and justice for every little girl who was told to stay silent,&#8221; before adding her work is not done. 
&#8220;I&#8217;m even gonna sh*t post from time to time&#8230; because someone has to call out the dumb*ss*s&#8230; because if we don&#8217;t, we as a country will be gone,&#8221; she added.
<a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/senate/race/488671">The Cook Political Report</a> ranks the seat as Solid Republican going into November.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-endorses-lindsey-grahams-sister-for-senate-seat?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Makes+Endorsement+In+Race+To+Replace+Lindsey+Graham">Memorial services</a> for Graham will be held in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina on July 28 and 29 after funeral plans were delayed to accommodate foreign dignitaries, a staffer revealed on Friday.

Senator Lindsey Graham Makes Announcement On Presidential Run

‘I’m In’: Lindsey Graham’s Sister Makes It Official

Darline Graham Nordone

Lindsey Graham

News

U.S. Senate

South Carolina’s newly appointed interim U.S. Senator Darline Graham Nordone <a href="https://x.com/darlinegrahamsc/status/2078593464053166332?s=46&amp;t=5nB3R1hthzMlYMrXjZyN8Q">addressed</a> the people of her state in an open letter posted to X on Saturday, reflecting on the sudden loss of her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, and her commitment to stepping into the role.
Nordone began the letter by addressing her brother&#8217;s death a week before, writing, &#8220;Dear Fellow South Carolinians, I never imagined I would be speaking to you under these circumstances.&#8221;
&#8220;If I could trade this moment and have Lindsey back, I would do so in a heartbeat,&#8221; she continued.
Darline Graham expressed gratitude for the support her family has received. “I have been amazed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from the people of South Carolina,” she said. “I always knew Lindsey was an amazing person, but I have been overwhelmed by how many people truly loved him and how many lives he touched.”
The letter highlighted Lindsey Graham’s lifelong dedication to South Carolina and the nation and also described Nordone&#8217;s decision to accept the appointment as a continuation of family values instilled in them from an early age.
“Lindsey dedicated his life to serving South Carolina and defending our nation. He accomplished so much, yet he still had so many big ideas that he was determined to see through,” she wrote, adding, “Now, it’s time for me to step up for South Carolina, just like he stepped up for me when our parents died. In the most challenging of times, I’ve learned God often calls on ordinary people to do extraordinary things.”
She acknowledged that she brings her own approach to public service. “Yet I am not Lindsey. I have my own way of doing things. But we were raised with the same values: work hard each day, trust in the Lord, remember your roots, and never forget who you work for.”
She cited her career focused on helping South Carolinians with disabilities find employment and live independently as an example of that service.
The open letter also thanked Lindsey Graham’s staff for their work during a difficult period. “On behalf of my family and Lindsey’s staff — who have worked tirelessly through their own grief while continuing to serve the people — thank you.”
She concluded by asking for prayers: “I did not seek this moment. But it’s here. Now, I’m asking for your prayers. God Bless.&#8221;
The letter comes days after South Carolina Republican Governor Henry McMaster appointed Nordone to fill the remainder of her brother’s Senate term after she was recommended by President Donald Trump, saying it would be a fitting <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lindsey-grahams-sister-named-interim-senator-she-accepted-through-tears?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Lindsey+Graham%E2%80%99s+Sister+Named+Interim+Senator+%E2%80%94+She+Accepted+Through+Tears">tribute</a> to Lindsey Graham, who had spoken highly of his sister in past interviews. She accepted the position in an emotional public appearance. 
“Lindsey has always been there for me. Now, I will be there for him,” she said last week.
Supporters, including members of Graham’s former staff and fellow South Carolina officials, praised her background in state government, workforce development, and her personal character. With her appointment, Nordone became the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. She will serve out the remainder of her brother&#8217;s term, which ends in January 2027.

Darline Graham Nordone Pens Emotional Open Letter Following Brother’s Death

South Carolina

Eight Democrats are vying to replace former Senate nominee Graham Platner after he withdrew from the race last week following a string of scandals involving rape allegations, a Nazi tattoo, and controversial online posts that plagued his campaign. They will gather to debate on Thursday evening.
Wednesday was the deadline to file with the Maine Democratic Party. Delegates will choose the party&#8217;s replacement nominee from the field of eight at a July 25 convention, with the winner advancing to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins. The candidates are scheduled to take the debate stage on Thursday night. 
Maine state Sen. Troy Jackson was the first Democrat to jump into the race. A former Republican and fifth-generation logger, Jackson became active in politics while advocating for American loggers competing with lower-paid Canadians. He has since embraced economically leftist policies, including support for organized labor, and has been endorsed by far-left Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Jackson came in third place for Maine’s gubernatorial race behind Nirav Shah who also tossed his hat into the Senatorial race. Jackson <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TroyJacksonmaine/posts/im-ready-to-take-the-stage-thursday-and-make-my-case-to-mainers-but-nobody-shoul/1572391381559583/">asked</a> News Center Maine, Thursday’s debate host, to allow every candidate to participate in the debate who has filed their candidacy. 
Former CDC Deputy Director Nirav Shah says Platner <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6401125610112">supporters</a>  ‘have a home’ in his campaign. Shah practiced as an attorney for six years before going back to school to the University of Chicago to get his doctorate in medicine. He served as Illinois’s Director of Public Health and even served as the Deputy Director of the CDC. Shah left the CDC in 2025 where he serves as a visiting professor at Colby College, a position he held while running his gubernatorial campaign. Shah says he’s running on the grassroots movement he created during his last race. He says his goal is simple, “We must defeat Susan Collins.” Collins, although a Republican, is arguably the most progressive Republican in the Senate. Collins supports abortion rights, opposed the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and voted against the 2017 partial appeal of the Affordable Care Act. Shah attacks her platform for voting to support an additional $70 billion to fund the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. 
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows will be making her second attempt to unseat Collins after losing to the Republican incumbent in 2014. Collins beat Bellows, taking about two thirds of the vote, in 2014. Bellows claims she’ll have better results this go around because she “learned how to bring people together, how to assemble a professional campaign, and really learned a lot about the stakes” through running for Governor. Bellows, who currently serves as Maine’s Secretary of State, took fourth place in the gubernatorial campaign falling behind Shah and Jackson. 
Former Rep. Katie Porter&#8217;s chief of staff Jordan Wood was in a Senate campaign last year. Wood ultimately pivoted his campaign to a spot in the House after Democratic Representative Jared Golden announced he wouldn’t be running for re-election. Wood is a former congressional chief of state for Katie Porter who was known for harsh interactions with her staff and reporters. Wood’s campaign website attributes his campaign mission to “fighting back” against Trump after he was “barricaded at the Capitol on January 6th.” 
David Costello is making another run for the Democratic Senate nomination after receiving about 8% of the vote in the primary. Governor Janet Mills and Platner split the other 92%. A longtime public servant, Costello has held positions in city, state, and federal government and has also worked as a climate activist.  
Businessman Dan Kleban dropped out of the Senatorial race before the primary, endorsed Mills over Plattner. Kleban told NBC, “ICE needs to be ‘dismantled’ after a shooting occurred on Tuesday. Kleban is a businessman who founded Maine Beer Company. He says, “I’ve spent years talking to Mainers over a beer in our taproom and throughout the community. We’re all sick and tired of a system that’s been rigged by corporate interests.” 
Former state Rep. Elizabeth Dickerson, a teacher, says she wants to make “compassion our guiding principle.” Her campaign has focused on opposing war with Iran, addressing climate change, and resisting Trump’s agenda. 
Paige Loud, 29, is the youngest hopeful candidate. &#8220;A lot of young people and students are disconnected from politics,” she <a href="https://mainecampus.com/category/news/2026/03/umaine-graduate-student-paige-loud-runs-for-maines-2nd-congressional-district-shares-insight-on-campaign/">said</a>. “ I remind students that I think our voices need to be in those big rooms where decisions are being made.” Loud is currently a social worker. She spent the last eight years in school starting at Tulsa Community College in Maine before obtaining both her bachelor&#8217;s and master’s degree in social work from the University of Maine. Loud says if she wins she will serve but ultimately leave the senate to become a hospice social worker. 
Thursday’s debate will begin at 7 pm ET and last 90 minutes, wrapping up half an hour before President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the nation.

Democratic Candidate Graham Platner Holds A Town Hall As He Campaigns for Senate In Maine

Meet The Democrats Running To Replace Graham Platner

Elections

graham platner

Maine

Maine Democrats

Politics

Two days after his sudden death, Sen. Lindsey Graham&#8217;s (R-SC) desk on the Senate floor sat conspicuously empty, save for one item: a glass vase filled with white roses.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Desk of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the U.S. Senate. <a href="https://t.co/8mcumDh5Eg">pic.twitter.com/8mcumDh5Eg</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2076746110996013236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
One by one, Graham&#8217;s colleagues took the floor and offered their tributes to the late South Carolina senator, who died late Saturday after what the medical examiner&#8217;s office revealed was an aortic dissection resulting from cardiovascular disease.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) teared up as he spoke, praising his friend and colleague as he said of Graham, &#8220;I know that I&#8217;m not the only one who finds it difficult to imagine the Senate without Lindsey Graham &#8230; There was no bigger believer in America&#8217;s role in the world. He was confident that the United States could be a force for good, and he gave everything he had to ensuring that we would be.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://x.com/LeaderJohnThune?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderJohnThune</a> tribute to Sen. Lindsey Graham: “There was no bigger believer in America’s role in the world.” <a href="https://t.co/o1mjVcPB6b">pic.twitter.com/o1mjVcPB6b</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2076753298418172227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) added, &#8220;It&#8217;s a sad day for all of us in the Senate &#8230; Senator Graham always brought a smile to your face and levity to the halls of Congress.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sen. <a href="https://x.com/ChuckGrassley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChuckGrassley</a> tribute to Sen. Lindsey Graham: &#8220;It&#8217;s a sad day for all of us in the Senate&#8230;Senator Graham always brought a smile to your face and levity to the halls of Congress.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/rMJqnrPjpB">pic.twitter.com/rMJqnrPjpB</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2076749515726487971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Senate Chaplain Barry Black opened the session with prayer, saying, &#8220;Eternal God, as flags fly at half-staff throughout our nation to honor Senator Lindsey Graham, we give you thanks to you for his life and for his years of public service. Lord, we remember with gratitude his commitment to the responsibilities entrusted to him and the many ways he sought to serve the people of this country.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
U.S. Senate <a href="https://x.com/Chaplain_Black?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chaplain_Black</a>: &#8220;Eternal God, as flags fly at half-staff throughout our nation to honor Senator Lindsey Graham, we give you thanks to you for his life and for his years of public service.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/KdVWZQDKMX">pic.twitter.com/KdVWZQDKMX</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2076745343258038577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In the hallway outside Graham&#8217;s office, a makeshift memorial quickly appeared and began to grow as people left flowers and Post-it notes outside the door.
<div id="attachment_1134213" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1134213" class="wp-image-1134213 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285908371-864x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 13: Sticky notes are left near the office entrance for the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the Russell Senate Office Building on July 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. Graham passed away suddenly over the weekend at age 71 after serving South Carolina in Congress for 31 years, including eight years in the House and 23 years in the Senate. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285908371-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285908371-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285908371-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285908371.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images</div>
<div id="attachment_1134215" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1134215" class="wp-image-1134215 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285310945-864x576.jpg" alt="UNITED STATES - JULY 13: A representative from the Kurdistan Communities Assembly lays flowers outside the office of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in Russell building on Monday, July 13, 2026. Graham, who sponsored the Save the Kurds Act, passed away on July 11th. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285310945-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285310945-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285310945-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285310945.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images</div>
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said on his podcast, &#8220;The Verdict,&#8221; that Graham had left a vacancy that would be impossible to fill.
&#8220;Who will fill the void? Who will fill Lindsey Graham&#8217;s shoes?&#8221; Cruz asked. &#8220;My answer is nobody. Nobody. The role he played in the Senate, he was universally respected, but also universally liked and even adored by people who disagreed with him passionately.&#8221;
&#8220;I don&#8217;t know a single senator out of 99 other senators who didn&#8217;t genuinely like Lindsey and consider him a friend like all of them, and it was a gift,&#8221; he added.

Lindsey Graham’s Desk In The Senate: Empty, Save For One Item

Lindsey Graham's Desk In The Senate: Empty, Save For One Item

Congress

Talk about a delayed reaction.
For months, Maine Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner sailed through scandal after scandal with the Democratic Party&#8217;s blessing intact. A tattoo tied to Nazi SS iconography? Fine. Old posts sneering at rape victims and calling rural Americans &#8220;stupid&#8221; and &#8220;racist&#8221;? Shrugged off. Cheering on the death of a wounded U.S. soldier online? Chalked up to a &#8220;dark period.&#8221; Steamy texts to other women while married? Overlooked.
Even a supposed <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/politics/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html?searchResultPosition=9">New York Times exposé</a> detailing ex-girlfriends&#8217; accounts of controlling, physically rough behavior barely dented his support. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o8vE0Js_VE">waved the Nazi tattoo away</a> by calling Platner &#8220;a human being.&#8221; Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) went on national television days later insisting there was &#8220;no evidence of violence&#8221; and that this was his personal red line — a line, it turns out, that hadn&#8217;t yet been crossed in his eyes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Don’t forget that last time Graham Platner was accused of mistreating women, not only did Ro Khanna defend him, he flew out to Maine to campaign for him. <a href="https://t.co/P9CHvy8KUa">pic.twitter.com/P9CHvy8KUa</a>
&mdash; Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) <a href="https://x.com/EYakoby/status/2074222801116905511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Big names stuck by him through it all: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, and of course Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who campaigned at Platner&#8217;s side and later brushed off the mounting allegations of violence against women by <a href="https://www.press.org/newsroom/sanders-takes-aim-trump-mainstream-democrats-corporate-media-remarks">noting</a>, &#8220;There are people in the United States Senate right now who are not saints, I can tell you that.”
So what finally did it? A <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/06/top-democrats-pull-graham-platner-endorsements-call-him-end-maine-senate-campaign/">fresh accusation</a> — this one alleging outright sexual assault, not just &#8220;toxicity&#8221; or bad boyfriend behavior. The moment the word &#8220;assault&#8221; entered the conversation, the dam broke. Senate Democratic leadership, including Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, suddenly found their outrage, declaring the allegations &#8220;incredibly disturbing&#8221; and demanding Platner exit the race immediately. Gallego reversed course and yanked his endorsement. Khanna, who just days earlier had drawn his personal red line well short of these claims, now says the accusations are &#8220;very serious and credible&#8221; and pulled his support too.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Oh, now it&#39;s bad?
&mdash; Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) <a href="https://x.com/redsteeze/status/2074243123505725775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&#8230;but you were fine endorsing a literal Nazi, of course.
&mdash; Don Marshall (@RealDonMarshall) <a href="https://x.com/RealDonMarshall/status/2074259643698708760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Too little too late. You were cool w his Nazi tattoo. You were cool w his racist and misogynistic posts. You were cool W his trashing US vets. You are a disgrace.
&mdash; Anne Herzberg (@AnneHerzberg14) <a href="https://x.com/AnneHerzberg14/status/2074295331119063084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Warren joined the chorus urging Platner to step aside. Even Maine&#8217;s own state Democratic Party piled on, framing the flip as a matter of &#8220;judgment&#8221; and &#8220;leadership.&#8221;
Funny how judgment works.
The glaring holdout? Sen. Sanders — one of Platner&#8217;s earliest and loudest cheerleaders — who&#8217;s gone conspicuously silent, declining to answer questions about the new allegation altogether. In May, Sanders refused to answer a reporters&#8217; questions on serious allegations made against Platner.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
As Sanders continues to support Platner, here’s a flashback from May where Sanders snapped at a Fox News Digital reporter and condescendingly told him to “get a better job”
Talk about looking like a total 🤡 right now <a href="https://t.co/JVm5H19FnW">pic.twitter.com/JVm5H19FnW</a>
— Cameron Cawthorne (@Cam_Cawthorne) <a href="https://x.com/Cam_Cawthorne/status/2074486453728313635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The whiplash hasn&#8217;t gone unnoticed. Nazi tattoos, greenlit. Mocking a wounded soldier, greenlit. Explicit texts behind a wife&#8217;s back, greenlit. Allegations of shoving a girlfriend into a room and blocking the door, greenlit. But the second the word &#8220;assault&#8221; showed up in a headline, suddenly party leaders discovered principles they&#8217;d somehow misplaced for the better part of a year.
Platner, for his part, denies the latest claim but admits he&#8217;s &#8220;mindful of the political reality&#8221; it creates, and says he&#8217;s weighing his next move.
Maine law gives him until July 13 to bow out gracefully — or force his own party to keep defending the indefensible through November.

Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner Holds His Primary Election Night Event

The Long List Of Democrats Who Ignored Platner’s Scandals

Bernie Sanders

Elizabeth Warren

nazi tattoo

Ro Khanna

Sexual Assault

Jenny Racicot, 41, said during a CNN interview that aired Monday that Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, a Democrat, had stopped briefly to apologize while he was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-new-sexual-assault-accusation-rocks-maine-democrat-graham-platner">raping her</a>.
Racicot described the scenario to CNN anchor Jake Tapper, claiming that Platner had appeared to be &#8220;blackout drunk&#8221; when he came into her house — and although he did not listen when she told him to stop, there were periods where he &#8220;came to&#8221; and apologized before going right back to what he was doing.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ro Khanna and numerous other Democrats have dropped their endorsements of Graham Platner just in time.
Just minutes before CNN&#8217;s Jake Tapper conducted a lengthy exclusive interview with the woman accusing the Senate candidate of r*ping her. <a href="https://t.co/oqyxVuIm03">https://t.co/oqyxVuIm03</a> <a href="https://t.co/5VVWA7oVE1">pic.twitter.com/5VVWA7oVE1</a>
— Media Lies (@MediasLies) <a href="https://x.com/MediasLies/status/2074260143261290668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Racicot explained that she and Platner had been texting each other on the evening of the alleged assault, and that she must have said something that he had believed to be an invitation. She said she had not meant it that way, but he said he was going to come over. According to Racicot, she said again that he should not come over, and he stopped responding — at which point she believed he had gotten the message.
It was about thirty minutes later that she said he showed up, entered her home through an unlocked door, and got on top of her. Racicot said she told him several times that she was &#8220;not into&#8221; what he was doing, but that he did not listen. She said that as the assault continued, Platner had a blank look in his eyes.
She said that in the struggle, one of them had knocked over a sewing kit that she kept near the couch — and when the contents hit the ground and scattered, that was the moment she began thinking that she should &#8220;comply&#8221; for her own safety.
&#8220;That was me recognizing that this wasn&#8217;t just like oh, hey, somebody showed up and I&#8217;m going to tell him to go home, like he was heavily intoxicated, had intentions with me, and wasn&#8217;t listening when I said no,&#8221; she claimed.
As the assault continued, she said he seemed to be going in and out of moments of lucidity — and even said that he &#8220;would apologize&#8221; before going right back to what he&#8217;d been doing.
Racicot said that once it was over, she sat in her bathroom for quite some time attempting to process what had happened. The hardest thing, she said, was realizing that he had been someone she trusted and had been involved with before, was that it &#8220;was consensual until it wasn&#8217;t.&#8221;
By the time she came out of the bathroom, she said that Platner had fallen asleep in her bed. Realizing that he had driven to her house drunk and not wanting to put him back on the road in that condition, she said she waited until he woke up and told him to leave. He said he did not remember anything that had happened the night before — and Racicot told him that nothing he had done that night had been acceptable, demanding that he leave.
&#8220;He just got up and got dressed and didn&#8217;t seem concerned,&#8221; she said. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t ask me a single question &#8230; How can somebody that you&#8217;ve been in some type of a relationship with for this long tells you to never speak to [them] again because of something that you did and you don&#8217;t even ask what you did?&#8221;
Racicot told Tapper that she had been torn on whether to come forward, in part because she is a Democrat and would like to see a Democrat win the Senate seat in Maine — but that she felt like she couldn&#8217;t stay silent any longer.
&nbsp;

Maine Democratic Candidate For Senate Graham Platner Campaigns Across The State

Platner Accuser Says He Stopped To ‘Apologize,’ Then Raped Her Anyway

Platner Accuser Says He Stopped To 'Apologize,' Then Raped Her Anyway

Jake Tapper

Media

Senate Homeland Security Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) has subpoenaed Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, escalating a yearslong battle over the federal government&#8217;s handling of the COVID pandemic and the origins of the virus.
Paul announced Monday that he issued the subpoena after Fauci allegedly backed out of an agreement to voluntarily appear before the committee.
&#8220;Last week, Anthony Fauci notified us he will NOT voluntarily testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, even though he had previously agreed to do so,&#8221; Paul <a href="https://x.com/RandPaul/status/2069168695398588521">wrote on X</a>. &#8220;Therefore, today I have issued a subpoena requiring him to testify before the Committee, in public, next month.&#8221;
The subpoena is the first issued by Paul since taking over as chairman of the committee, which granted its chairman unilateral subpoena authority last year.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/06/23/2026/why-rand-paul-subpoenaed-fauci">Semafor</a>, Paul said months of negotiations with Fauci ultimately broke down after the former public health official agreed to appear and then reversed course.
&#8220;He&#8217;s been slow-walking information to us for six months or more,&#8221; Paul said. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been negotiating over the date for several months. He agreed, then he said he wouldn&#8217;t. So, I think it&#8217;s time that we bring him in.&#8221;
Paul indicated that lawmakers intend to question Fauci about several issues, including his presidential pardon, allegations regarding federally funded gain-of-function research, and accusations that records related to the government&#8217;s pandemic response were destroyed.
&#8220;I think there&#8217;s a lot to discuss,&#8221; Paul said.
The subpoena marks the latest chapter in one of Washington&#8217;s most contentious post-pandemic rivalries.
Throughout the post-COVID era, Paul <a href="https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/media/reps/senator-rand-paul-re-refers-dr-anthony-fauci-to-the-department-of-justice/">repeatedly</a> sparred with Fauci during Senate hearings, accusing him of misleading Congress about U.S.-funded research connected to the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. Fauci consistently denied claims that the National Institutes of Health funded gain-of-function research that could have created the virus responsible for the pandemic.
As evidence supporting the lab leak theory gained credibility in recent years, Paul intensified his criticism, arguing that Fauci and other public health officials worked to dismiss legitimate questions about the virus&#8217; origins.
The Kentucky senator has previously called for Fauci to face criminal charges, <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5936032-rand-paul-subpoena-anthony-fauci-covid-19/">alleging</a> that he lied to Congress under oath regarding gain-of-function research funding. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been negotiating with him for material and for testimony. This has gone on for some time,&#8221; Paul said during a Tuesday interview. &#8220;He slow walked us and slow walked us. Finally agreed to come in voluntarily &#8230; then last week he says he&#8217;s not coming in.&#8221;
&#8220;With this subpoena power, we will bring him in, unless he fights this in court,&#8221; Paul added.
The move comes as congressional Republicans continue investigating the origins of COVID-19 and the federal government&#8217;s pandemic response, issues that remain politically potent years after lockdowns, vaccine mandates, school closures, and other emergency measures reshaped American life.
Fauci has not yet publicly responded to the subpoena. If he declines to comply, the dispute could trigger a legal battle testing the scope of Congress&#8217; oversight authority and Paul&#8217;s new subpoena powers as committee chairman.

rand paul fauci

Rand Paul Issues First Subpoena Of Long Senate Career — For Tony Fauci

Anthony Fauci

COVID

Rand Paul

Embattled Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has openly credited a controversial activist theologian with helping shape his political and religious worldview.
During a March 2021 podcast appearance, Talarico enthusiastically praised theologian Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, describing himself as a &#8220;fan boy&#8221; and crediting Henderson-Espinoza&#8217;s work with influencing his thinking.
&#8220;When you started following me on Twitter, I couldn&#8217;t contain my inner fan boy, because I read your book last year and it continues to inspire me and y&#8217;all&#8217;s work continues to inspire me,&#8221; Talarico said. He went on to argue that aspects of his own identity limited his imagination, saying, &#8220;my whiteness, my masculinity, all those things limit my imagination about what&#8217;s possible. And that&#8217;s where your book helps me do that.&#8221;
Talarico has spent much of the last several months attempting to explain away a series of past remarks that Republicans have characterized as excessively leftist, including statements that &#8220;God is non-binary,&#8221; suggestions that there are six biological sexes, and arguments that the Bible does not prohibit abortion.
While Talarico has recently described some of his older remarks as &#8220;cringey,&#8221; his praise for Henderson-Espinoza provides insight into some of the intellectual influences behind those statements.
Talarico specifically referenced Henderson-Espinoza&#8217;s 2019 book &#8220;Activist Theology,&#8221; which argues for a form of Christianity centered on political activism and opposition to what the author describes as &#8220;interlocking supremacies.&#8221; Henderson-Espinoza later expanded those themes in the 2022 book &#8220;Body Becoming: A Path to Our Liberation,&#8221; which advances a vision of faith rooted in social justice and liberation politics.
Henderson-Espinoza, who goes by “<a href="https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/06/12/roberto-che-espinoza/">Roberto Che Espinoza</a>,” is an activist theologian, author, professor, and ordained minister who identifies as transgender, &#8220;non-binary,&#8221; and &#8220;TransQueer Latinx.&#8221; A longtime figure in Left-wing academic and activist circles, Henderson-Espinoza has served as a visiting professor at Duke Divinity School and founded the Activist Theology Project, an organization that describes itself as bringing together theologians, activists, social-change advocates, and political organizers.
The project&#8217;s stated mission extends far beyond traditional ministry, positioning itself at the intersection of religion, activism, and political organizing.
Her work pushes well beyond even what many would consider “progressive Christianity.” In a 2018 academic paper, Henderson-Espinoza called for &#8220;transing religion&#8221; as a way to dismantle traditional understandings of sex, gender, and theology. The paper argued for breaking down what Henderson-Espinoza described as religious &#8220;binarisms&#8221; and challenged longstanding Christian teachings on complementarity and human nature.
Henderson-Espinoza has also described the Bible as &#8220;trans-positive,&#8221; referred to transgender individuals as &#8220;Easter icons,&#8221; and argued that traditional theological categories should be reimagined through the lens of queer theory and liberationist activism.
In interviews, Henderson-Espinoza has argued that even “progressive Christianity” does not go far enough. Speaking with The Nation, Henderson-Espinoza rejected the label of &#8220;progressive Christian,&#8221; arguing that the movement remains too influenced by liberalism and individualism and fails to sufficiently challenge what she calls systems of oppression and &#8220;whiteness.&#8221;
Instead, Henderson-Espinoza identifies as a &#8220;liberationist,&#8221; both politically and theologically, viewing Christianity primarily through the lens of social activism and liberation movements rather than doctrine or institutional tradition. That worldview has led Henderson-Espinoza to openly dismiss many traditional priorities of organized religion. In the same interview, Henderson-Espinoza argued that relationships should take priority over doctrine and dogma and stated, &#8220;I&#8217;m not an institutionalist &#8230; and I&#8217;m not here to preserve the institutional church.&#8221;
Rather than preserving churches or defending theological orthodoxy, Henderson-Espinoza has argued that Christians should focus on activism, social change, and challenging existing institutions. Her political activism has mirrored those views. Henderson-Espinoza has opposed legislation preventing trans-identifying boys from competing in girls&#8217; sports, criticized parental notification policies involving students who identify as transgender, and frequently incorporates progressive political causes into sermons, public appearances, and academic work.
Those positions have made Henderson-Espinoza a celebrated figure among activists and Left-wing religious circles while drawing criticism from more traditional Christians.
For Talarico, however, Henderson-Espinoza was not merely a public figure he admired from afar. By his own admission, the theologian&#8217;s writings, activism, and worldview helped expand his political imagination and served as a source of inspiration during his rise within Texas Democratic politics.
As Republicans continue highlighting Talarico&#8217;s past comments on faith, gender, and sexuality, that relationship is likely to face increased scrutiny as voters evaluate the influences that helped shape the Democratic nominee&#8217;s worldview.

Texas State Representative Talarico Campaigns Ahead Of Primary Election

James Talarico Fanboys For Trans Activist Theologian Who Pushes Bizarre Views On Christianity

2026 Midterms

James Talarico

Texas

Transgender

Maine Senate Democratic hopeful Graham Platner is taking fresh heat after a buried online post revealed he once branded all police officers &#8220;opportunistic cowards&#8221; — the latest in a parade of scandals that have plagued his bid to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
The since-deleted Reddit screed, unearthed by <a href="https://themainemonitor.org/platner-reddit-comments/">The Maine Monitor</a>, dates to June 2020, when Platner — then 35 and posting under the handle &#8220;P-Hustle&#8221; — fired off a rant mocking the Hancock County Sheriff&#8217;s Department for requesting riot equipment during the height of Black Lives Matter unrest. Rather than engage seriously with the request, Platner ridiculed the deputies as &#8220;overweight pansies&#8221; too soft to handle &#8220;George Stevens Academy sophomores and aging hippies&#8221; without taxpayer-funded gear. Then came the kicker: &#8220;Cops are opportunistic cowards.&#8221;
Retired federal special agent and Maine state Rep. Donald Ardell expressed his anger. &#8220;It just shows a complete lack of understanding of the way law enforcement operates,&#8221; the Maine Republican told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dem-senate-hopeful-under-fire-resurfaced-comments-calling-cops-opportunistic-cowards">Fox News</a>. &#8220;They have to be prepared for eventualities.&#8221;
That same month, Platner blasted a Maine police chief as &#8220;thin blue line trash&#8221; for refusing to take a knee alongside Floyd protesters. He also endorsed the slogan &#8220;all cops are bastards&#8221; — later reported by <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/politics/kfile-graham-platner-maine-senate-candidate-deleted-reddit-posts">CNN</a> — and questioned in 2021 whether corruption runs through the entire law enforcement profession.
Ardell, who says current and former colleagues are &#8220;disgusted&#8221; by Platner&#8217;s remarks, summed it up bluntly: &#8220;It&#8217;s a series of consistent bad decisions, and it seems to be continuing.&#8221;
The cop commentary is just one item on a lengthening rap sheet of controversy for the self-described &#8220;oyster farmer&#8221; and far-Left populist. Platner&#8217;s Reddit history — spanning nearly a decade before he scrubbed it upon launching his campaign — also includes him calling himself a &#8220;communist&#8221; and &#8220;socialist,&#8221; mocking rural white voters as &#8220;racist&#8221; and &#8220;stupid,&#8221; and making cruel remarks about a teenage girl&#8217;s suicide attempt.
His personal life hasn&#8217;t fared much better under scrutiny. His campaign admitted he sent sexually explicit texts to at least half a dozen women while married. He <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/see-it-graham-platner-has-active-profile-on-predators-paradise-messaging-app">maintained a profile</a> on Kik — a messaging app critics call a &#8220;predator&#8217;s paradise&#8221; — and has struggled to explain why ex-girlfriends knew about his Nazi-linked tattoo years before he claims he learned of its significance himself.
Platner has insisted his online posts were jokes, dismissing them as &#8220;sh*tposting.&#8221; He&#8217;s attributed some remarks to PTSD from military deployments.
Ardell isn&#8217;t buying the rehabilitation narrative.
&#8220;This is not a guy that has a skeleton in the closet,&#8221; the lawmaker said. &#8220;This is a guy that has a whole graveyard.&#8221;

‘Opportunistic Cowards’: Graham Platner’s Cop-Hating Past Resurfaces

Police

Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner raised roughly $200,000 in the days following a New York Times report highlighting abuse allegations from three of his former girlfriends, even as critics challenge key elements of the working-class biography that fueled his political rise. 
The fundraising haul came as Platner sought to reassure supporters that his campaign remains strong despite a series of damaging reports about his past.
Speaking at a recent campaign rally, Platner argued that his personal history was being “weaponized,” to the applause of his supporters.
“When hurtful things I said on the internet a decade ago came out into the public, as I shared my personal journey through PTSD and darkness, of recovery and accountability and growth, Maine had my back,” Platner said. “Now, as every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated, and weaponized, you have my back.”
Democrat politicians, such as Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), have attempted to strike a careful balance between supporting Platner and acknowledging the seriousness of the accusations against him.
“No one should make excuses for his past relationships, some of which were toxic and volatile, and no one on our side should attack the women who came forward,” Khanna said. “You know why? Because Democrats believe in respecting the equality and the dignity of women, and we always will.”
The comments stood in contrast to Platner&#8217;s own response to the claims.
“These are the statements of someone who is politically motivated,” Platner said during an appearance on MSNOW. “I do expect the Republican party to fight as dirty as possible.”
At the rally, Platner again denied the allegations. 
“When politically motivated, serious, and false accusations are made against me, Maine, you have my back,” Platner said.
The New York Times reported that three former girlfriends alleged physical abuse during their relationships with Platner, and said the Maine Democrat knew the meaning behind his controversial Totenkopf tattoo. 
Platner has denied the accusations, saying any claims about physical abuse or knowing the tattoo&#8217;s meaning are false.
While Platner attempted damage control about his past, critics have continued to scrutinize his biography, which helped fuel his rise in Democratic politics.  
At the same rally, Platner described how healthcare gave him the freedom to &#8220;start a business&#8221; and &#8220;make a living on the sea.&#8221;
“My healthcare gave me freedom,” Platner said. “It gave me the freedom to take a risk, to start a business, and to sink my intellect and my physicality into mastering the skills necessary to make a living on the sea.”
The Washington Free Beacon has challenged that portrayal, reporting that Platner borrowed $200,000 from his father to purchase his home and relies heavily on veterans disability benefits. The outlet also reported that the primary purchaser of oysters from Platner&#8217;s oyster farm is a restaurant owned by his mother.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Graham Platner today falsely claimed to “make a living on the sea.” That’s not true. He lives almost entirely off his VA disability payments and he bought his house with $200,000 from his dad, as we’ve reported <a href="https://x.com/FreeBeacon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FreeBeacon</a> <a href="https://t.co/zD7DfJE2Vl">https://t.co/zD7DfJE2Vl</a> <a href="https://t.co/v76JLON2hz">pic.twitter.com/v76JLON2hz</a>
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) <a href="https://x.com/peterjhasson/status/2063050311711760595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Platner has also frequently highlighted his experience serving as his town&#8217;s harbormaster. The Free Beacon reported that he held the position for approximately 18 months.
In addition to these current allegations, other revelations show that Platner sent sexually explicit messages to multiple women while married and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/see-it-graham-platner-has-active-profile-on-predators-paradise-messaging-app" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has an account</a> on Kik, a messaging platform flagged by child safety advocates for being associated with sexual predators.

New Questions Emerge About Platner’s Biography As Scrutiny Intensifies

Four Senate Republicans <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/four-senate-republicans-unite-dems-block-trumps-save-america-act">joined</a> every single Democrat to kill President Donald Trump&#8217;s chosen election integrity legislation for the second time — but Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) fired back with a procedural masterstroke that showed exactly what&#8217;s standing between the SAVE America Act and the president&#8217;s desk: the filibuster.
Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) once again crossed the aisle to block the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and a photo ID to cast a ballot. The amendment, offered by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) as an attachment to the nearly $70 billion reconciliation package funding ICE and Border Patrol, needed 60 votes to clear the filibuster threshold. It never came close.
Graham didn&#8217;t pull punches after the vote. &#8220;There&#8217;s no other reason to say you don&#8217;t have to have an ID,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It just makes cheating easier.&#8221;
Lee then dropped the hammer and took aim at the &#8220;Zombie Filibuster,&#8221; the modern version of the filibuster that allows senators to obstruct legislation without maintaining a talking filibuster.
&#8220;51 votes for the SAVE America Act during tonight&#8217;s budget reconciliation vote-a-rama,&#8221; Lee posted on X. &#8220;That means that but for the Zombie Filibuster, the House-passed SAVE America Act would now be on its way to the White House for President Trump&#8217;s signature.&#8221;
&#8220;If they want to filibuster the SAVE America Act, make them speak,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And if we&#8217;re not willing to make them speak and do the hard work, then it is time to nuke the filibuster.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
51 votes for the SAVE America Act during tonight’s budget reconciliation vote-a-rama
That means that but for the Zombie Filibuster, the House-passed SAVE America Act would now be on its way to the White House for President Trump’s signature <a href="https://t.co/3eVv6RpO3C">https://t.co/3eVv6RpO3C</a>
&mdash; Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) <a href="https://x.com/BasedMikeLee/status/2062749611349991652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) had warned before the vote that &#8220;it&#8217;s about the math,&#8221; trying to manage expectations. What the math now shows is that even if the four Republicans voted for the bill, which has overwhelming public support, they still cannot get the bill through.
Democrats, predictably, cried foul. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) insisted &#8220;current safeguards are working&#8221; and dismissed the effort as an attempt to &#8220;ban vote by mail.&#8221; He also complained about transgender-related provisions being added to the amendment during Pride Month, claiming it was &#8220;offensive.&#8221;
The American people want voter ID. A majority of the Senate wants voter ID. The only thing in the way is the filibuster.
The argument against killing the filibuster is that if Democrats gain power, they will ram every conceivable change through the Senate, such as increasing the number of justices on the Supreme Court and adding more states to the union that would pad their electoral numbers.

Sen. Mike Lee

Four Republicans Help Democrats Hide Behind The Filibuster — Then Mike Lee Drops The Hammer

Filibuster

Mike Lee

SAVE America Act

The most partisan Democrats celebrated Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) for reaching a major milestone as her likely 2026 Democratic opponent Graham Platner’s campaign faltered from the fallout of a fresh controversy.
On Thursday, the Maine senator cast her 10,000th consecutive vote during a marathon vote-a-rama on President Donald Trump&#8217;s budget reconciliation package, which provides $69.5 billion in funding for ICE through 2029. The measure passed 52-47. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was the lone Republican who voted against it.
The Senate chamber erupted in applause as Collins hit the milestone, drawing rare bipartisan praise. 
“No matter what has been going on in the world or in her life, Senator Collins has never, never missed a vote in her entire Senate career. This is truly a remarkable milestone,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. “Many of us try hard to make every vote. Senator Collins has actually done it.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME, <a href="https://x.com/SenatorCollins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenatorCollins</a>) 10,000 consecutive roll call votes. <a href="https://t.co/GVMKpiQDf6">pic.twitter.com/GVMKpiQDf6</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2062701833249059218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) backed up Schumer, calling the accomplishment an “impressive demonstration of endurance and determination.&#8221;
“I salute you for it,” he said. 
Collins, a moderate Republican who represents an increasingly blue state, is the first senator in history to reach the threshold. 
“Mainers are known for their work ethic, and they deserve a senator who works just as hard for them. Growing up in Aroostook County, I learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and honoring your commitments. I am proud to bring those values with me to the Senate every day,” Collins said of her 10,000 votes.  
“Representing the state of Maine is the honor of a lifetime, and I will continue to serve with the diligence and responsibility that Mainers deserve,” she added. 
Maine is considered a must-win state for Democrats seeking to flip the Senate and block President Trump&#8217;s second-term agenda. Collins has consistently defied conventional wisdom and political headwinds, winning four reelection campaigns with cross-over support in an increasingly polarized era.
Schumer’s praise of Collins is especially notable as Democrats bend over backwards to defend Platner as he remains entrenched in controversy. 
The Democratic Senate candidate engaged in a pattern of “intimidating and disturbing” behavior toward multiple women and lied about not knowing the meaning of his Nazi tattoo, according to a new <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/politics/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share">report</a> from The New York Times citing former girlfriends.
Three of Platner’s ex-girlfriends described volatile and “toxic” relationships with the Senate hopeful, claiming he demeaned women, became physically threatening, and was repeatedly unfaithful. On one occasion, an ex-girlfriend accused Platner of twisting her arm, shoving her into a bedroom, and holding the door shut until she became “calm.” 
“It didn’t cause an injury, it didn’t break my arm,” she told the Times. 
In damage control, Platner strongly disputed claims of physical intimidation or violence. 
“There are some allegations in this piece that I just want to be kind of unequivocal about, are simply not true,” Platner said on MS NOW. “Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging that I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of someone who’s politically motivated.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
WATCH: Hayes asks Platner where there are any other damning texts or pictures out there that could potentially get dropped late in the race. Platner&#8217;s response: &#8220;I&#8217;m not worried about it.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/lL70UrAaAA">pic.twitter.com/lL70UrAaAA</a>
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) <a href="https://x.com/BonillaJL/status/2062696625668075943?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
Earlier this week, Platner <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-am-still-on-the-ballot-janet-mills-reappears-as-platner-stumbles?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=9&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98I+Am+Still+On+The+Ballot%E2%80%99%3A+Janet+Mills+Reappears+As+Platner+Stumbles">met privately</a> with Senate Democrats in Washington as party leaders grew increasingly concerned about whether additional scandals could surface before the general election. 
Yet even as Democratic leaders coalesce around Platner, fissures within the party continue to surface.
“Graham Platner is a chronic liar who is mentally disturbed, sympathetic to Nazis, and dangerous to women,” Ally Sammarco, a Democratic political consultant, said. “I’m disgusted to see members of my party make excuses for his behavior because it’s politically beneficial. He should be nowhere near our party and the U.S. Senate.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Graham Platner is a chronic liar who is mentally disturbed, sympathetic to Nazis, and dangerous to women. I’m disgusted to see members of my party make excuses for his behavior because it’s politically beneficial. He should be nowhere near our party and the U.S. Senate.
— Ally Sammarco (@Ally_Sammarco) <a href="https://x.com/Ally_Sammarco/status/2062711389131551018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2026</a></blockquote>

Susan Collins

Susan Collins Just Became Democrats’ Favorite Republican

Chuck Schumer

Democrats

Menu