Graham Platner wins Maine primary election: Results and key takeaways

Graham Platner , who has advocated for government-funded healthcare, free education and a wealth tax, has won the Maine Democratic primary for the United States Senate. He will take on Republican Senator Susan Collins in a high-stakes race in November.

Platner, a veteran turned oyster farmer initially backed by the progressive Democrats, was accepted by the establishment Democrats after his rival, Maine Governor Janet Mills, dropped out in April amid dismal ratings.

Primary results for Nevada, South Carolina and North Dakota were also announced on Tuesday.

Democrats have high hopes of capturing a US Senate seat from Republicans in Maine, where five-term Senator Collins is running for re-election at a time when voters are soured by high consumer prices and the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Platner built momentum with a “man of the people” pitch that resonated with moderates and progressives, drew substantial campaign funding and put him so far ahead that Democratic Governor Mills suspended her own Senate bid in April.

Although she remained on the ballot, Platner was leading her by about 72 percent to roughly 20 percent, and another Democrat, David Costello, trailed in single digits with 42 percent of precincts reporting.

“In November, Maine voters will elect Graham Platner, and we will win a Senate majority,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a joint statement with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Schumer had initially backed Mills.

Platner’s mother took the stage before he spoke. She declared: “I am very, very proud of my son. I’m proud of who he is.”