Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner joined Sen. Bernie Sanders at a “Fighting Oligarchy” rally in Portland, where he embraced Sanders-style democratic socialism, launched anti-corporate attacks on Susan Collins, and criticized U.S. weapons spending tied to G
For the last stretch of the evening, Graham Platner didn’t sound like a candidate trying to win a preference. He sounded like someone trying to ignite a movement.
On Monday, Platner—Maine’s presumptive Democratic nominee seeking to unseat five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November—appeared alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at a “Fighting Oligarchy” rally in Portland. The event was designed to mobilize progressive activists and expand grassroots organizing efforts ahead of the midterm elections. and it was one of Sanders’ Maine stops with gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson.
Platner brought the fight to the stage through sharp, anti-corporate language. He told the crowd of cheering progressives they must build a “political revolution” and take back “what is ours.”
“We are taking back what is ours. We’re going to take it back from the corporations that seek profit, no matter the cost from the billionaires for whom greed is the point, and from corrupt politicians like Susan Collins, corrupt politicians who have sold us out,” Platner said.
He then widened his attack to health care, accusing health insurance executives of “lining their pockets with our blood, sweat, and tears.”
All night, Sanders’ economic themes hovered over Platner’s message. Platner described a political system he said rewards power and money instead of regular people. saying. “It is a system that is the politics of Susan Collins. a politics that turns politicians into millionaires. but tells you to be grateful for crumbs.”.
The argument also turned outward, toward the Middle East. Platner criticized the way he said American money is being used in conflicts in Gaza and Iran, telling supporters that U.S. tax dollars are being weaponized to “blow up someone else’s children.”
“Our tax dollars can build schools and hospitals in America instead of bombs to drop on them in Gaza and Iran,” he said.
When Sanders took the stage, he framed Platner’s challenge as more than a single Senate contest. He cast the election as a possible pivot for the broader progressive agenda, telling supporters, “You elect Graham Platner senator, you’re going to transform America.”
Sanders also connected Platner to his own proposals aimed at the ultra-wealthy. Sanders said. “I introduced legislation. which Graham will be by my side in fighting for. which says that we are going to impose a 5% annual wealth tax on 938 billionaires in America. ” adding that he introduced similar legislation earlier this year proposing a 5% annual wealth tax on 938 U.S. billionaires.
And on technology, Sanders portrayed Platner as part of the same fight—this time against concentrated power. He warned that a “handful of billionaires” could otherwise control the future of artificial intelligence and robotics, saying, “Graham understands… we are not going to let a handful of billionaires control the future of this country.”.
Graham Platner Bernie Sanders Susan Collins Maine Senate Fighting Oligarchy rally Portland democratic socialism wealth tax Gaza Iran Elon Musk Mark Zuckerberg artificial intelligence robotics