Maine Governor Janet Mills has launched an attack ad against her Democratic primary rival for US Senate, Graham Platner, spotlighting his 2013 Reddit posts about women and sexual assault. The ad features Maine women reacting negatively to the comments. Platner's campaign dismissed the ad as desperate.
On Tuesday, Maine Democratic Governor Janet Mills released an ad criticizing Graham Platner, her opponent in the Democratic primary for the US Senate seat. The ad highlights Platner's 2013 Reddit posts, in which he suggested women fearful of rape should “act like an adult for f*** sake” and “not get so f***ed up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to.” It also references his statements that women should “take some responsibility for themselves” and “act like an adult.” > That’s a horrible thing to say. > — Jill from South Portland > Just no way I could vote for you. > — Peggy from Vassalboro The ad was shared via a tweet from @JanetMillsforME on March 17, 2026. Platner's campaign manager responded, calling it “a desperate attempt for relevance from the governor, who is trailing an oyster farmer in every recent poll,” according to the Midcoast Villager. The manager added, “Mainers know that Graham should not be defined by the worst thing he said on the internet over a decade ago.” These comments had previously resurfaced last year, prompting Platner to apologize. He reshared the apology on Tuesday, stating: “Back in October, when my past internet comments resurfaced, I read through them. I was horrified and did not recognize the man on the other side of the posts.” Platner has since engaged with voters at town halls across the state. Platner, backed by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), remains competitive in the primary. Mills is supported by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). On the same day, Platner aired his own ad targeting Republican Senator Susan Collins, featuring a Maine voter named Susan Collins who backs him. National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesperson Samantha Cantrell commented: “The girls are fighting! It doesn’t matter how the Chuck Schumer vs. Bernie Sanders proxy war ends, because both of these candidates will lose to Susan Collins.” The Maine Senate race is one of four rated as a “toss-up” by the Cook Political Report.
