Graham Platner, a Marine veteran who runs a small oyster farm, announced Tuesday that he is running for U.S. Senate in Maine, arguing he can harness his apolitical background — and friendships with many Donald Trump voters — to win over working-class voters and change a political system that too often benefits the rich and powerful.
Platner becomes the latest candidate with hardly any political experience to run for major office, joining the ranks of candidates like Nathan Sage in Iowa and Dan Osborn in Nebraska, who are hoping that the deep discontent the Democratic Party establishment will convince voters to make unconventional choices during next year’s races.
In an interview with NOTUS, Platner said watching the difficulties of everyday citizens in his hometown convinced him he needed to run for office.