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What to watch in Tuesday's primaries as Graham Platner tries to clinch Senate nomination in Maine

Platner won the Democratic Senate nomination as his campaign faced scrutiny over recently reported allegations.

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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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Republished from Associated Press, with credit to the original publisher.

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457 stories · 96–97 · updated Oct 5, 2026

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KTBSvia Associated Press
Jun 9, 2026
tl;dr

Graham Platner won Maine’s Democratic Senate nomination, while Tuesday’s primaries also produced results in South Carolina and Nevada. The article focuses on the controversies surrounding Platner and the political implications of several races.

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This story reports what happened without casting Platner in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Platner’s record.

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Democratic Senate candidate who won Maine’s primary nomination

PRIMARY SUBJECT

New Jersey representative who urged Platner to leave the ballot

Lindsey Graham
Former U.S. Senator (R-SC)

South Carolina senator who won the Republican Senate nomination

Republican House candidate who won Nevada’s 2nd District primary

Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Republican senator and Platner’s expected general-election opponent

Mark Lynch
R · SC

Republican businessman who lost the South Carolina Senate primary

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed candidates in several primaries

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Vermont senator and supporter of Platner

John Fetterman
D · PA · SEN

Pennsylvania senator who supported Mills in the Maine primary

Nevada representative who announced his retirement and endorsed Settelmeyer

Jim Clyburn
D · SC-6

South Carolina representative who won his primary

Al Franken
Former U.S. Senator (D-MN)

Former Minnesota senator mentioned in connection with Smith’s arrival in the Senate

Xavier Becerra
Former U.S. Representative (D-CA)

Democratic candidate for California governor

Elizabeth Warren
D · MA · SEN

Massachusetts senator and supporter of Platner

Maine governor and former Democratic Senate primary rival to Platner

Former state senator and Republican House candidate who lost Nevada’s 2nd District primary

Tina Smith
D · MN · SEN

Minnesota senator who endorsed Platner

ALSO MENTIONED  Alan Wilson, South Carolina attorney general and Republican gubernatorial candidate; Barack Obama, Former president whose reelection campaign is referenced in connection with Jim Messina; Joe Lombardo, Nevada governor who endorsed Settelmeyer; Pamela Evette, South Carolina lieutenant governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate; Steve Hilton, Republican candidate for California governor

Part of a bigger story

28 OUTLETS
Graham Platner Wins Maine Democratic Senate Nomination

Graham Platner won Maine’s Democratic Senate nomination, setting up a November general-election race against Susan Collins. Center outlets pair the result and Collins matchup with scrutiny of Platner’s past. Right-leaning outlets foreground allegations and often extend the focus to criticism of Platner and Democrats who support him.

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