Exclusive: Graham Platner goes after Janet Mills in first TV ad
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Photo: Graham Platner for U.S. Senate
Maine oyster farmer Graham Platner criticizes Maine Gov. Janet Mills as business as usual in the first candidate TV ad of the state's marquee Senate race, which was shared exclusively with Axios.
Why it matters: The Democratic contest to take on Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the party's top pickup target in the Senate, is poised to be one of the most combative primaries in 2026.
- "Janet Mills again? She was a good governor, but I think it's time for change," an older woman says in Platner's spot.
- The advertisement portrays Platner, a first-time candidate endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), as a change agent. "Maybe he could shuck up the system," another woman jokes in the advertisement.
- The spot will air statewide on MSNBC starting Wednesday, a day after Mills jumped into the race. The Platner campaign said it is a "six-figure" ad buy running for three weeks.
Zoom out: The Maine Senate Democratic primary is shaping up to be a out-and-out battle between the party establishment and its progressive wing. The contest is also reinvigorating a debate within the party over generational change.
- Platner, 41, has said he would not vote for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for majority leader if Democrats take back the Senate next year, while Mills and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have created a joint fundraising committee.
- Despite Schumer recruiting Mills, she has not committed to supporting him in his leadership role, saying, "I've made no promises." Mills, 77, said she doesn't plan to serve more than one term in the Senate.
- Mills implicitly criticized Platner and other Democrats in the race in an interview with NBC, saying that "unlike other people in the primary right now, I've actually won public office, won elections."
Zoom in: Both Platner and Mills are making a bet that Democratic voters want a Senate nominee who takes on President Trump.
- Platner's TV ad portrays him as "somebody who's going to take it to Trump," and Mills' campaign announcement video highlights her recent clashes with the president.
The other side: Republicans are reveling in the fact that Democrats must undergo a competitive primary before they attempt to take on Collins.
- "Fresh off shutting down the government and furloughing 12,000 Mainers, Chuck Schumer is now recruiting Janet Mills into Maine Democrats' increasingly toxic primary," said Senate Leadership Fund executive director Alex Latcham in a statement.
- Former End Citizens United vice president Jordan Wood is also running in the Democratic primary.
What's next: Platner's campaign said it is also airing a separate spot, which will mirror his online announcement video, during the New England Patriots game on Sunday.
