Platner Fundraised With Health Lobbyists Days Before Vowing to Refuse Their Cash
He became the first Maine federal candidate to sign the nurses' union pledge against big health industry donations, five days after the Washington event.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner attended a Washington fundraiser organized by health care lobbyists five days before he pledged to turn down donations from that industry, the Bangor Daily News reported.
On March 25, Platner became the first Maine candidate for federal office to sign National Nurses United's Patients Over Profits pledge, which commits him to reject contributions over $200 from executives, lobbyists and political groups tied to corporate health care. He signed it outside the Bangor hospital, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, alongside registered nurses.
One host, Joshua Hurvitz, previously served as a Democratic congressional aide before representing Novo Nordisk, Pfizer and the drug-industry trade group PhRMA. Asked about it, Platner said lobbyists attend public fundraisers.
Erin Oberson, a Bangor nurse active in the union, said the pledge applies only to donations made after a candidate signs. At least $12,000 the campaign raised in 2025 could fall within the pledge's scope, including a $6,000 contribution from Brightview Senior Living owner Arnold Richman. That is a small share of the $4.6 million the campaign raised in the last quarter of 2025.
The campaign said recent fundraising events were not industry gatherings and that attendees came on their own behalf. Platner, a Sullivan oyster farmer, faces Gov. Janet Mills and David Costello in the Democratic primary for the chance to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.
This story was first reported by Bangor Daily News.
