Maine Senate race leads primaries in four states

Voters in Maine, South Carolina, Nevada and North Dakota cast primary ballots Tuesday in races that will shape several high-stakes contests for Senate, governor and the House, with Maine Democrat Graham Platner’s scandal-shadowed Senate bid drawing the most national attention.

Platner, a 41-year-old military veteran and oyster farmer, is expected to win the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who is unopposed in her primary and has held the seat since 1997. Democrats view Collins’ seat as a top target in their effort to win back the Senate, and the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race a toss-up.

Platner built a strong fundraising and polling lead before Democratic Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign in April after struggling to gain traction and running short of money. Mills, 78, remains on the ballot, along with David Costello.

But Platner enters primary day facing renewed scrutiny. The Wall Street Journal reported that his wife told his campaign he had sent sexually explicit text messages to other women soon after they married in 2023. The New York Times reported that three former girlfriends described his behavior as “volatile” and “unsettling,” including one woman who alleged he was physically rough with her. Platner has denied physical abuse and suggested the allegations are politically motivated. “Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging that I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of someone who’s politically motivated,” he told MS NOW.

Earlier controversies included Reddit posts from 2009 to 2021 containing profane, racist and sexually inappropriate comments, as well as comments downplaying sexual assault, and a tattoo widely recognized as a Nazi symbol. Platner has apologized for the posts and covered up the tattoo, saying he did not know its meaning until late last year. He has also acknowledged struggling with PTSD and alcohol during what he called a “very dark period of my life.”

Some prominent progressives continue to back him. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont told CBS News he would “do everything I can” to help Platner win, adding, “There are no saints in the United States Senate.” Rep. Ro Khanna of California said on “Face the Nation” that voters should acknowledge the conduct was wrong and then focus on Platner’s issues, including “taking on the billionaire class.” But Genevieve McDonald, Platner’s former political director, wrote in The Washington Post that he “is not someone who would be good for Maine or for the country.”

Maine also has competitive primaries for governor to replace term-limited Mills. Five Democrats are on the ballot, including former Maine CDC chief Nirav Shah, former state Senate President Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former state House Speaker Hannah Pingree and renewable energy entrepreneur Angus King III. The Republican field includes Bobby Charles, Jonathan Bush, David Jones, Garrett Mason and Ben Midgley. Maine uses ranked-choice voting if no candidate wins a majority. State Sen. Rick Bennett has qualified for the November ballot as an independent.

In Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, four Democrats are competing to succeed retiring Rep. Jared Golden in a district Donald Trump won in the last three presidential elections. State Sen. Joe Baldacci, State Auditor Matt Dunlap, social worker Paige Loud and former congressional staffer Jordan Wood are seeking the nomination. Former Republican Gov. Paul LePage is unopposed and has Trump’s endorsement.

South Carolina Republicans are choosing among Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Attorney General Alan Wilson, Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, state Sen. Josh Kimbrell and businessman Rom Reddy in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster. Trump endorsed Evette, calling her a “good friend, fighter, and WINNER.” If no candidate wins a majority, the top two advance to a runoff later this month. Democrats Jermaine Johnson, Mullins McLeod and Billy Webster are also running.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, seeking a fifth term in South Carolina, faces Republican challengers including businessman Mark Lynch, who has lent his campaign $5 million. Trump has endorsed Graham. Democrats seeking the seat include pediatrician Annie Andrews, Brandon Brown and Kyle Freeman.

In Nevada, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo faces minor primary opposition while Democrats Aaron Ford and Alexis Hill compete to challenge him in November. North Dakota’s lone House member, Republican Rep. Julie Fedorchak, faces a primary challenger, while Democrat Trygve Hammer is unopposed.