Graham Platner, a former Marine, military contractor, small businessman, and oyster farmer running as a Democrat to unseat Maine Sen. Susan Collins (R), is calling for sweeping left-leaning changes to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a newly released campaign video, he argued that the Court has turned into a “political action wing” of conservatism and must be restructured.
Speaking to supporters in Skowhegan, Maine, Platner said Democrats underestimate the power the Senate has to influence the Court. If Democrats retake the Senate majority, he said they should use “every single lever of power” available to rein in what he views as an ideologically driven judiciary.
Platner voiced support for court expansion, ethics oversight, and the creation of new Senate rules to hold justices accountable. He claimed that if Supreme Court justices were held to the same ethical standards as other federal judges, there would be grounds to impeach and remove at least two current justices. A video of his remarks was posted online, though only the audio was available.
Although critics have labeled Platner a socialist or even a communist, the accusations have not slowed his polling momentum. According to RealClearPolitics, he currently leads Collins by 4.8 points and also leads the Democratic primary field.
Collins, long considered one of the Senate’s most centrist Republicans, has historically performed well in tough races. The 2026 contest is expected to be highly competitive and attract heavy national spending. A new Cygnal poll reported by Politico found Collins trailing a generic Democratic candidate 49% to 41%, though the memo emphasized she often outperforms baseline GOP numbers.
The poll also suggested that supporting an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits could narrow the race for Collins. Voters favored her more when she backed extending ACA subsidies, improving her standing with swing voters and moderate demographics. Collins has said she supports extending them but believes reforms are needed, according to CBS News.
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