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EVERYBODY IS AS SAFE AS CAN BE.” FOR MAINE’S TOTAL COVERAGE, I’M TERRY STACKHOUSE. IN COMMITMENT 2026… A NEW PINE TREE POLL FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE REVEALS SOME INTERESTING NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE UPCOMING RACES IN MAINE. POLITICAL REPORTER CATE MCCUSKER JOINS US LIVE IN STUDIO THIS EVENING TO BREAK IT ALL DOWN. CATE WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING? ONE OF THE BIGGEST HEADLINES FROM THIS POLL IS THAT DEMOCRAT GRAHAM PLATNER IS LEADING GOVERNOR JANET MILLS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR SENATE. THIS IS FROM THE LAST PINE TREE POLL IN OCTOBER – RIGHT AROUND WHEN PLATNER’S CONTROVERSIAL REDDIT POSTS AND TATTOO CAME OUT – AND HE WAS LEADING THEN BUT THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT HOW VOTERS WOULD REACT TO THE CONTROVERSIES… BUT IN THIS NEW POLL – IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THOSE CONTROVERSIES HAVE HURT HIM AT ALL – AS HE HAS EXTENDED HIS LEAD TO 64% WHILE MILLS IS AT 26% IN THE RACE FOR MAINE’S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WITH REPRESENTATIVE JARED GOLDEN NOT SEEKING REELECTION – FORMER REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR PAUL LEPAGE IS LEADING IN MATCHUPS AGAINST HIS POTENTIAL DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGERS.. JOE BALDACCI, MATT DUNLAP, AND JORDAN WOOD…BUT THEY’RE ALL VERY CLOSE LESS THAN 5% AND IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR IT’S A VERY CROWDED FIELD WITH MORE THAN 20 CANDIDATES – BUT IN THIS POLL WE’RE SEEING A FEW FRONT RUNNERS EMERGE – WITH NIRAV SHAH LEADING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY… AND THEN IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY – BOBBY CHARLES HAS AN EVEN WIDER LEAD… BUT IN BOTH RACES – THERE ARE A LOT OF UNDECIDED VOTERS WHO COULD DECIDE THIS ELECTION BEFORE TH
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Maine Democrat Graham Platner has picked up another high-profile endorsement in his bid to flip a key Senate seat blue, marking another sign of the oyster farmer and combat veteran’s political resiliency even as he continues to face controversy throughout his campaign.Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego announced Monday that he was backing Platner, saying that the first-time candidate “reflects the grit and independence that defines Maine.””Graham Platner is the kind of fighter Maine hasn’t seen in a long time, someone who tells you exactly what he thinks, doesn’t owe anything to the special interests, and wakes up every day thinking about working families,” said Gallego, who won a Senate seat in Arizona in 2024 by more than 2 points while Trump carried the state by nearly 6 points.Platner has previously been endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat.However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has endorsed Platner’s main opponent, Maine Gov. Janet Mills.Both Platner, 41, and Mills, 78, are hoping to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins, 73, a five-term incumbent who announced last month that she was running for another term. A victory in Maine is crucial for Democrats’ efforts to take back control of the Senate. The Democratic Party needs to net four seats to retake the Senate majority, and they are aiming to do that in Maine, North Carolina, Alaska and Ohio.Platner has gained traction with his anti-establishment image and economic equality message. He’s pressed forward despite controversies over old social media posts and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which he recently had covered up.Gallego is among the Democrats named as possible 2028 presidential contenders. Last fall, he stumped in New Jersey, Virginia and Florida, where he campaigned for Democrats who went on to win their elections.”I have an immense amount of respect for him and I’m looking forward to joining him as a fellow Marine and combat infantryman in the U.S. Senate,” Platner said in a statement.___Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.
Maine Democrat Graham Platner has picked up another high-profile endorsement in his bid to flip a key Senate seat blue, marking another sign of the oyster farmer and combat veteran’s political resiliency even as he continues to face controversy throughout his campaign.
Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego announced Monday that he was backing Platner, saying that the first-time candidate “reflects the grit and independence that defines Maine.”
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“Graham Platner is the kind of fighter Maine hasn’t seen in a long time, someone who tells you exactly what he thinks, doesn’t owe anything to the special interests, and wakes up every day thinking about working families,” said Gallego, who won a Senate seat in Arizona in 2024 by more than 2 points while Trump carried the state by nearly 6 points.
Platner has previously been endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat.
However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has endorsed Platner’s main opponent, Maine Gov. Janet Mills.
Both Platner, 41, and Mills, 78, are hoping to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins, 73, a five-term incumbent who announced last month that she was running for another term. A victory in Maine is crucial for Democrats’ efforts to take back control of the Senate. The Democratic Party needs to net four seats to retake the Senate majority, and they are aiming to do that in Maine, North Carolina, Alaska and Ohio.
Platner has gained traction with his anti-establishment image and economic equality message. He’s pressed forward despite controversies over old social media posts and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which he recently had covered up.
Gallego is among the Democrats named as possible 2028 presidential contenders. Last fall, he stumped in New Jersey, Virginia and Florida, where he campaigned for Democrats who went on to win their elections.
“I have an immense amount of respect for him and I’m looking forward to joining him as a fellow Marine and combat infantryman in the U.S. Senate,” Platner said in a statement.
___
Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.
