Graham Platner’s campaign in Maine’s U.S. Senate race drew another major national endorsement on Monday as Democrats continued to split over their best path to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins. The latest boost came from Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, whose support adds weight to a candidacy that has been defined in part by an anti-establishment pitch.
Gallego said he endorsed Platner after meeting him, and he framed the race as an effort to reach voters who feel politically ignored. In a statement, Gallego said, “Since I met Graham a couple of months ago, and from talking to my non-political friends and Marine Corps buddies from Maine, I know Graham can draw people into politics right now who have been really unhappy with the two parties and feel forgotten.”
Gallego also connected his endorsement to foreign-policy experience, citing the outbreak of war with Iran. He said the Senate “needs to reflect the experiences and expertise of those who have been the boots on the ground,” arguing that Platner’s background fits what he wants from Senate representation.
The endorsement arrives amid parallel support for Mills, the governor who is seeking to win the Democratic nomination in a race that could influence whether Democrats regain control of the Senate. Democrats’ establishment figures, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and others, have lined up behind Mills, according to the report, while Platner has kept attracting additional endorsements.
Mills’ campaign responded to the growing contrast between the candidates. Tommy Garcia, a spokesman for Mills, said the governor “has broad support from leaders who know what it takes to win tough races,” adding that Mills is “the leader for this moment” and that she is “the best candidate to defeat Susan Collins in November.” Mills’ backing also includes support from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, as well as Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and three of his predecessors.
The Gallego endorsement also highlights how Platner’s candidacy has remained resilient despite repeated scrutiny. The report said Platner has faced controversy tied to old social media posts and a tattoo he later covered because it resembled a Nazi symbol. It also described Platner’s explanation that he got the tattoo during a period of drinking while he was on leave in Croatia, and that he later covered it after learning of its association with Nazis.
In addition, the report described renewed attention to Platner after he reposted and then deleted a comment from radio host Stew Peters, who has promoted antisemitism, Holocaust denial claims and conspiracy theories. The report said Platner shared Peters’ comment and added similar language after President Donald Trump’s recent State of the Union address, before deleting the post later.
The report also said Platner has been questioned for being a guest on Nate Cornacchia’s podcast in late January. During a Jan. 27 conversation, the report said Cornacchia and Platner focused largely on labor issues and on immigration enforcement activities amid the death of Alex Pretti in Minnesota.
Mark Brewer, a professor and chair of the political science department at the University of Maine, described the dueling endorsements as reflecting larger tensions within the Democratic Party. Brewer said the split “is emblematic of the divisions we’re really seeing nationwide among Democrats,” adding that some factions are willing to take risks on candidates like Platner in a “current unsettled political environment.”
Platner, 41, and Mills, 78, are competing for the chance to challenge Collins, 73, who announced last month she was seeking another term. The report said Democrats need to net four seats to retake the Senate majority, and they are aiming to do so in Maine, North Carolina, Alaska and Ohio.