Overview
- Warren became the fourth U.S. senator to back Platner, joining Bernie Sanders, Ruben Gallego and Martin Heinrich, while party leaders including Chuck Schumer and Catherine Cortez Masto support Gov. Janet Mills.
- Mills escalated the race this week with a TV ad highlighting Platner’s 2013 Reddit posts that critics say minimized sexual assault and showed a tattoo resembling a Nazi-linked symbol; Platner has apologized and says the tattoo is now covered.
- Platner quickly countered with apology-focused spots and is heavily outspending Mills on air, reserving more than $430,000 in TV and digital this week to Mills’ roughly $104,000, according to AdImpact.
- Recent polling reported by the Bangor Daily News shows Platner leading Mills 46% to 39% among likely Democratic primary voters, with other surveys earlier this year finding him competitive against Collins.
- The June 9 primary will decide the Democratic challenger for Collins in a contest viewed as pivotal for Senate control, with Republicans already signaling major general‑election spending, including a $42 million pledge from the Senate Leadership Fund.