Progressives bet on Platner in Maine Senate race despite baggage

Progressive Democrats in Maine are backing Graham Platner in the state’s Senate primary despite a string of controversies about his past treatment of ex-girlfriends, arguing outsiders who align on policy can win over working-class voters; establishment Democrats worry a loss could undermine the party’s 2028 prospects, while high-profile supporters like Bernie Sanders and Tina Smith defend Platner as a test of whether the party will take risks on insurgent candidates.