In section Newsroom

Billionaire PAC Targets Maine Primary Frontrunner Graham Platner

A super PAC aligned with Senator Susan Collins has deployed nearly $2 million in attack ads against Democratic primary leader Graham Platner. The massive spending, funded by a coalition of Wall Street titans and tech executives, arrives just weeks before the June 9 primary in a high-stakes bid to halt his momentum.

Billionaire PAC Targets Maine Primary Frontrunner Graham Platner

Federal Election Commission filings reveal the Pine Tree Results PAC is bankrolled by elite financial figures with deep ties to the Trump administration. Notable contributors include Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, who previously funneled $2 million into the group, and Palantir CEO Alex Karp, who recently contributed $100,000. These donors are leveraging their wealth to resurface past controversies involving Platner, including a decade-old social media comment and a 2007 tattoo he has since had removed.

Despite the aggressive advertising, Platner remains the clear frontrunner against Governor Janet Mills. His campaign, which relies heavily on small-dollar donations, has consistently outperformed both Mills and the five-term incumbent in general election polling. While opponents argue these character attacks could threaten his electability, Platner’s recent polling shows him leading Collins by 11 points. Dismissing the influx of out-of-state corporate cash, Platner suggested the sheer volume of the spending signals anxiety within the establishment: "They’re getting scared. And they should be."

Share:on TelegramXFacebook

Subscribe to our newsletter

Once a week — the best stories from our editors, no ads or push notifications. Delivered Sunday morning.

Comments (0)

Leave a comment

No comments yet. Be the first!