Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner held a press conference outside of incumbent Senator Susan Collins’ office in Bangor, Maine and accused her of “getting incredibly wealthy, funneling taxpayer money to her husband [Tom Daffron] & profiting off stock trading while in office (violating the STOCK Act 25 times).”
Collins responded on social media, writing: “Today, a man I have never met held a press conference and accused me of criminal conduct. That is outrageous and false.”
She added, “If Graham Platner wants to debate policy, I look forward to that conversation. But making reckless and defamatory accusations because you cannot defend your own record is beneath the people of Maine.”
Let’s debate then, Senator. And let’s do them town hall style. Refusing to hold a single town hall in almost 3 decades because you cannot defend your own record is disqualifying as Maine’s United States Senator. https://t.co/xuGdD1rvkc
— Graham Platner for Senate (@grahamformaine) June 27, 2026
Platner jumped on the debate idea and replied to Collins: “Let’s debate then, Senator. And let’s do them town hall style. Refusing to hold a single town hall in almost 3 decades because you cannot defend your own record is disqualifying as Maine’s United States Senator.”
Collins’ supporters are defending the Senator with comments including “She doesn’t NEED to do town halls. Those are for people trying to ‘Introduce’ themselves,” and “You’re running to unseat an incumbent. You don’t get to make the rules.”
Others approved of Platner’s debate format suggestion, as both candidates skewered the other’s ability to defend their records. Environmental journalist Andrew Revkin replied: “Yes, a town hall-style debate is the perfect way to clarify who’s best suited to represent us in the Senate through this decade and beyond, as @grahamformaine proposes here.”
