Overview
- Gov. Janet Mills debuted a statewide TV spot Tuesday featuring Maine women reading Graham Platner’s 2013 Reddit remarks about sexual assault and closing on an image of a now-covered tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol.
- Her campaign argues many voters have not seen the posts and says similar attacks from Republicans would make Platner unelectable in November.
- Platner condemned the ad as divisive, reiterated past apologies tied to struggles after military service, and released a response message asking voters not to judge him by decade‑old comments.
- Recent Pan Atlantic polling shows Platner leading Mills 46% to 39% overall and effectively tied among women at 41% each, while Senate leaders and the DSCC back Mills and progressives such as Bernie Sanders back Platner.
- The June 9 primary is drawing national money and scrutiny, with roughly $80 million in ads already booked in a race seen as key to Democrats’ effort to unseat five‑term Republican Sen. Susan Collins.