Maine’s Graham Platner Pushes for Closer Ties with China in Senate Bid
Maine Democrat Graham Platner is looking to foster stronger connections with China if he wins a Senate seat, advocating for increased cooperation between the United States and the communist nation, particularly concerning climate change.
“Our approach to China should be more about collaboration rather than conflict,” Platner expressed during a recent news conference. He described it as illogical to adopt an aggressive stance toward Beijing, given the trade ties between the two countries.
“I’m not a China hawk,” he clarified. “We ought to be exploring ways to work together, especially in tackling global challenges like climate change.”
Platner, a progressive candidate, aims to defeat incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in the upcoming midterms. His stance on China seems to diverge sharply from mainstream political views, even among many Democrats who view China as a key strategic competitor.
He also highlighted what he sees as the biggest threats facing the U.S. today, pointing to fascism and climate change as foremost issues. “I mean, before we address fascism, climate change looms large as a global issue,” Platner, who is also an oyster farmer and military veteran, shared during a livestream event.
In a controversial remark, Platner referred to federal immigration agents as “armed thugs” and accused them of causing harm to American citizens, which seemed to allude to recent violent incidents linked to immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.
His platform includes advocating for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and calling for testimony from its officials in Congress about their operations.
Responses to Platner’s remarks have been mixed. The Republican National Committee criticized his views, alleging that his approach could jeopardize national security and embolden authoritarian regimes.
In commenting on Platner’s ideas, RNC spokesperson Kristen Cianci stated, “Graham Platner’s extreme notions of cozying up to communism will threaten our national security and cost American lives.” She expressed doubt about his suitability for a Senate position.
Platner finds himself in a tight primary race against Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D), which has sparked a divide within the Democratic party. Prominent progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren have publicly supported Mills, while still standing by Platner, despite some backlash over his past controversial online posts and his removal of Nazi-related tattoos.
Advocating for significant changes, Platner has suggested replacing Sen. Schumer as Democratic leader, modifying the filibuster to accelerate the passing of progressive legislation, and expanding the Supreme Court to reduce the influence of its conservative majority.
Recent polls indicate strong support for Platner among progressive circles, particularly from oyster farmers affiliated with Sanders, although Mills remains the most established Democrat in the race. Collins is campaigning for a sixth term in a state that leans Democratic, and the Cook Political Report has categorized the race as a “toss-up.”
