New Graham Platner Ad Comes Out SWINGING Against Collins

New Graham Platner Ad Comes Out SWINGING Against Collins

From Bulwark Takes by The Bulwark

May 7, 2026 · 19 min · Episode 831

About this episode

Sam Stein and Lauren Egan discuss the contrasting campaign ads of Graham Platner and Susan Collins in the Maine Senate race.

Sam Stein and Lauren Egan give their takes on the first ads from Maine Senate candidates Graham Platner and Susan Collins. The two campaigns couldn’t be more different. Platner comes out aggressively, launching a hard-hitting populist message that goes straight at Collins’ record and frames the race as part of a broader fight over power, Trump, and the direction of the country. Meanwhile, Susan Collins responds with a very different strategy: a nostalgic, local-focused ad centered on a decade-old infrastructure win in Maine. Sam and Lauren dig into what these opening ads reveal about each campaign’s theory of the race, whether Collins’ long-standing strengths still hold in today’s environment, and how Platner is betting that going on offense early will define her before she can define him. Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://ZocDoc.com/BULWARKTAKES to find and instantly book a doctor you love today. Bulwark Live: California tickets are on sale now! Sarah and gang return to sunny Southern California for two nights May 20 & 21. For details and tickets go to https://TheBulwark.com/Events .

People in this episode

Host: Sam Stein

Guest: Lauren Egan

Topics covered

  • Maine Senate race
  • political advertising
  • campaign strategies
  • populism
  • nostalgia in politics

Keywords

  • Graham Platner
  • Susan Collins
  • Maine Senate
  • political ads
  • campaign strategy

Sponsors

ZocDoc

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Bulwark

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