Platner Vastly Outraises Collins, but Spends Nearly as Fast as He Raises It
Collins banked $9.7 million to Platner's $2.2 million, and Republican groups have reserved more than twice the ad money Democrats have.
Newly filed campaign finance reports show Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is spending almost as fast as he is raising money, even after out-fundraising Republican Sen. Susan Collins by a wide margin ahead of Maine's June 9 primary.
Platner brought in close to $4.4 million between April 1 and May 20, 2026, versus $1.7 million for Collins over the same stretch, per Federal Election Commission paperwork filed May 28, 2026, and reviewed by the Bangor Daily News. Yet Platner had only $2.2 million left in the bank at the close of that window, dwarfed by Collins' $9.7 million reserve; she has no primary challenger to spend against. Campaign records show Platner's operation has burned through $14.3 million overall, with advertising eating up nearly 70 cents of every dollar spent, including $2.8 million during April 2026 alone.
Republican outside groups hold a financial edge heading into the fall. AdImpact tracking cited by the newspaper puts GOP-aligned ad reservations for the contest at roughly $99 million, versus about $44 million from Democratic-aligned groups. Pine Tree Results PAC alone has booked $23.8 million in Collins-boosting airtime, financed in part by contributors whose identities are not publicly disclosed. On the Democratic side, small donations routed through ActBlue made up much of Platner's haul, supplemented by maximum $7,000 checks from megadonor George Soros and his son.
This story was first reported by Bangor Daily News.
