Platner’s bold, affordability-focused agenda will deliver for Mainers 

Maine – The Working Families Party today endorsed Graham Platner for Democratic nomination for the Maine Senate seat.

“The Working Families Party has been on the frontlines fighting for working people, and I’m honored to have their support,” said Graham Platner. “Mainers are struggling every day without access to affordable health care, facing rising costs at the pump and the grocery store, and stuck with a senator who sides with corporate interests instead of fighting for us. The Working Families Party knows that meeting this moment will take bold, structural change to root out the corruption in Washington that is taking money out of people’s pockets. That is why we are building a movement of working people here in Maine to take on the billionaire class, and I am proud to have the Working Families Party in this fight with me.”

“Working Families Party is electing champions who will fight for working people, not the wealthy and well-connected,” said Georgia Hollister Isman, New England Regional Director of the Working Families Party. “Graham Platner is running to build political power for the people, not for lobbyists, billionaires, or the corporate interests who are holding us all back. Platner is going to fight on the issues working people care about, like getting money out of politics, taxing billionaires and guaranteeing homes for all, healthcare we can rely on, good jobs to support our families and more. His opponent in the general has paved the way for the Trump administration to harm Mainers, and in her time as Governor his opponent in the primary has repeatedly vetoed and blocked measures to protect workers and tenants. It is totally clear who the champion for working people is.”

Platner is an oyster farmer and veteran of both the Marines and the Army. He grew up in Sullivan, Maine and now serves as Chair of the Sullivan Planning Board as well as Harbormaster. His race has captivated national and local media, and his campaign has built a large base of supporters and donors. He has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Ruben Gallego, UAW, National Nurses United, IFPTE, Leaders We Deserve, and a number of local unions and organizations including Maine People’s Alliance, Maine State Nurses Association, APWU Local 458, IBEW Local 2327, and UAW Region 9A.

For the next nine months, WFP will mobilize its members to get the word out about how Plattner will fight for working Mainers.

“The 32,000 members of Maine People’s Alliance know how exciting and important Graham’s candidacy is—he’s inspiring so many Mainers to feel hope for a new kind of politics in a moment where opposing mounting authoritarianism and fighting for working people matters more than ever,” said Amy Halsted, Co-Director of Maine People’s Alliance. “Working Families Party is building this same movement across the nation and we are delighted to have them as an ally in this race.” 

WFP is backing affordability focused Congressional candidates across the country who are committed to building political power for working people, not billionaires and their lobbyists. In February, Working Families Party national committee member Analilia Mejia scored an upset win in NJ-11. Other candidates in our slate include  Mai Vang, who is challenging 20-year incumbent Doris Matsui in CA-7; Brad Lander, who is taking on Rep. Dan Goldman in NY-10; and Randy Villegas, who is running to face Republican David Valadao in CA-22.

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