Overview
- Graham Platner reported $4 million raised and $5 million spent in the first quarter, leaving $2.7 million in cash, while Susan Collins holds about $10 million and Janet Mills has roughly $1.1 million.
- Campaign filings show Platner pouring most spending into TV, video and digital ads and frequent town halls, as Mills pauses further ad buys and leans on staff, consultants and a statewide policy tour.
- Recent polls cited by local outlets show Platner with a large advantage over Mills ahead of the June 9 Democratic primary.
- Republican allies have outspent Democratic groups so far in ads shaping Collins’ image, and national super PACs report huge reserves, with the Senate Leadership Fund at $166 million and Senate Majority PAC near $75 million.
- Platner faced renewed scrutiny over past language and apologized for using a slur in a recent interview while discussing an old tattoo controversy reported last fall.