Graham Platner won the Democratic Senate nomination in Maine’s primary on Tuesday, obtaining 72% of the vote, according to the most recent update. During his victory speech at his campaign headquarters in Blue Hill, Maine, the controversial candidate spoke on various topics related to his campaign and political future. He touched on the concept of redemption, given the number of “mistakes” he’s made previously in life. He also echoed his campaign theme of defeating supposed oligarchs and being a senator who cannot be bought.
“Redemption is not just some simple or easy destination, it’s a journey,” Platner said. “I’ve made mistakes in my life, mistakes that I regret, that I live with, that I continue to learn from. And I’m still far from perfect. But every day, I wake up, I try to be a little bit better and a little bit kinder than I was the day before.”
“And if you give me the chance, I will be a senator for the people who cannot afford to buy a senator,” said Platner.
The remark was met with thunderous applause from those in attendance. He then remarked about affordability issues, an integral part of his campaign platform.
“I will stand up for you and against billionaires and greedy corporations,” said Platner. “I will serve you, the people of Maine, not some lobbyist or party boss. I will be the champion for your dreams as if it were my own, no matter the challenge or the expense. I will fight for you.”
“I’ve been willing to die for my country,” he said. “There is nothing that I will not do for the state of Maine.”
Platner then turned to criticizing his Republican opponent in the general election, Sen. Susan Collins. He criticized her on her voting record and blasted her as “spineless and corrupt as the establishment she now serves.”
“The truth is, Susan Collins does not serve us,” said Platner. “She serves Donald Trump. She serves the Epstein class. She serves her corporate donors and the corrupt political system that has rigged the economy against us. She does not serve us, and so we will defeat Susan Collins.”
COLLINS AND PLATNER SET UP BLOCKBUSTER MAINE SENATE SHOWDOWN
He also expressed devotion to his home state and the strength of his movement. He again emphasized his desire to challenge the “ruling class” should he be elected.
“Maine, I love you. I love this state,” Platner said. “Now, the national pundits, the political establishment, they keep looking for that one story, that one headline, that one moment in my life that they can define the campaign by. But in trying so hard to understand me, they failed to understand that this is not about me at all.”
“This is a movement about us, about the far-too-many, working far-too-hard, and struggling far-too-much, at the hands of the ruling class,” Platner said. “It is not a story of my hardship. It’s of our hardship. A story of the hardship of every working Mainer.”