Graham Platner Joins Bernie Sanders to Challenge Sen. Susan Collins in Maine

Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner appeared with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Monday. He vocalized several progressive themes similar to Sanders, targeting five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins and U.S. weapons spending in relation to conflicts in Gaza and Iran.

Platner, the Democratic nominee seeking to unseat Collins in November, made strong remarks during a “Fighting Oligarchy” rally led by Sanders in Portland. The event aimed to mobilize progressive activists and expand grassroots organizing efforts ahead of the midterm elections. This rally in Portland was one of Sanders’ stops in Maine, accompanied by Platner and gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson.

Throughout the rally, Platner strongly opposed corporate influence, telling a crowd of enthusiastic progressives they must build a “political revolution” and reclaim their rights.

“We are taking back what is ours. We’re going to take it back from the corporations that seek profit, no matter the cost from the billionaires for whom greed is the point, and from corrupt politicians like Susan Collins, corrupt politicians who have sold us out,” Platner said.

Platner criticized the status quo, emphasizing the impact of political systems that he claims turn politicians into millionaires at the expense of ordinary people.

He also addressed healthcare executives, accusing them of exploiting the public.

During the event, Platner commented on U.S. military spending in the Middle East. He argued that American tax dollars should fund domestic infrastructure instead of contributing to overseas conflicts.

“Our tax dollars can build schools and hospitals in America instead of bombs to drop on them in Gaza and Iran,” he stated.

Sanders described Platner’s election as significant for the progressive movement, asserting that Platner in office could help transform America.

Sanders linked Platner to his proposals for taxing the ultra-wealthy.

“I introduced legislation, which Graham will be by my side in fighting for, which says that we are going to impose a 5% annual wealth tax on 938 billionaires in America,” Sanders declared.

Platner was depicted as an ally in resisting major tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, emphasizing that a few billionaires should not dominate the future of technology.

“Graham understands… we are not going to let a handful of billionaires control the future of this country,” Sanders affirmed.