Graham Platner: podcast appearances and interviews

Graham Cunningham Platner, born on September 1, 1984, is an American oyster farmer and Marine Corps veteran from coastal Maine. He served eight years in the Marine Corps, including three combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan with the Maryland Army National Guard. Following his military service, he worked as a security contractor in Afghanistan before returning to Maine to take over an oyster farming operation in 2020. He became active in local government and announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in August 2025 as the Democratic nominee for Maine. Platner is described as a populist and progressive, focusing on issues such as housing affordability, universal health care, strengthening labor unions, reducing the political influence of billionaires, and ending what he considers unnecessary military interventions. His campaign was marked by controversy, including past statements on social media, a Nazi-era Totenkopf tattoo, and allegations of misconduct involving romantic relationships. In July 2026, following a rape allegation by a former girlfriend, and subsequent withdrawal of endorsements by several Democratic officials and the Maine Democratic Party, Platner suspended and ultimately withdrew from the race.