Graham Platner, a 40-year-old oyster farmer, harbormaster and veteran of four combat tours with the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, announced he will seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Susan Collins. Platner launched his campaign on Tuesday, saying Maine has become “essentially unlivable for working-class people” and accusing Collins of enabling former president Donald Trump’s agenda while projecting a moderate image. Collins, 72, has held the seat for five terms and is expected to run again in 2026, a race Democrats view as critical to their bid for a Senate majority. Platner joins former congressional staffer Jordan Wood in the Democratic field; party leaders are still courting Governor Janet Mills, who has not ruled out entering. Collins’ approval ratings have slipped during Trump’s second term, and Maine backed Vice President Kamala Harris by seven points in 2024, giving Democrats hope they can flip the seat despite the senator’s past electoral resilience.