Republicans warn Maine Senate race could tip control of chamber
Why it matters: Maine is the only GOP-held Senate seat in a state Kamala Harris carried in 2024, making Susan Collins a top Democratic target.
Senate Republicans are treating Maine as a decisive battleground after Democrat Graham Platner won his party’s primary and set up a general-election race against Sen. Susan Collins. In a memo circulated Wednesday, the National Republican Senatorial Committee warned that writing off Platner because of his scandals would be a “fatal mistake.” The group called Maine the linchpin among the 35 Senate seats up this year, arguing Democrats cannot win the chamber without defeating Collins. Republicans said Platner has outraised Collins in every quarter since entering the race, and the committee pointed to a $200,000 one-day fundraising burst after allegations from former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield became public.