Maine Senate candidate Platner embraces democratic socialism, attacks Collins

Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner met with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Monday. He appeared alongside and criticized five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins, echoing Sanders-style progressive themes and criticizing that U.S. arms spending is linked to conflicts in Gaza and Iran.

Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee seeking to unseat Collins in November, made the fiery remarks during an “Oligarchic Challenge” rally led by Sanders in Portland, aimed at mobilizing progressive activists and expanding grassroots organizing efforts ahead of the midterm elections. The Portland event was one of Sanders’ stops in Maine with Platner and gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson.

During the rally, Platner leaned heavily into anti-corporate rhetoric, telling the cheering progressive crowd that they needed to build a “political revolution” and take back “what’s ours.”

“We’re taking back what’s ours. We’re going to take it back, no matter the cost, from the profit-seeking corporations, from the billionaires where greed is the goal, and from the corrupt politicians like Susan Collins who sold us out,” Platner said. he said.

‘MAINE’S MAMDANI’: Maine GOP CHIEF PUBLISHES WARNING ABOUT NEW CHALLENGER WHO WANTS TO TAKE OFF SUSAN COLLINS

“This is the politics of Susan Collins, a system that turns politicians into millionaires but tells you to be grateful for the crumbs.”

Throughout the evening, Platner echoed Sanders’ economic speeches and accused health insurance executives of “lining their pockets with our blood, sweat and tears.”

BERNIE SANDERS WILL FORCE A SENATE VOTE ON BLOCKING WEAPONS SALES TO ISRAEL

Graham Platner, left, next to Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, right. (Graeme Sloan/Getty Images; Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

He also made sharp comments regarding the Middle East, claiming American tax dollars are being weaponized to “blow up someone else’s children.”

“Our taxes could build schools and hospitals in America instead of bombs being dropped on them in Gaza and Iran,” he said.

Sanders then took the stage and called Platner’s election an important moment for the progressive movement, telling his supporters, “If you elect Graham Platner senator, you will transform America.”

Senator Bernie Sanders answered questions from reporters in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (Nathan Posner/Anatolia via Getty Images)

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

The Vermont senator publicly linked Platner to tax proposals targeting the ultra-wealthy.

“I’ve introduced legislation that says we would impose a 5% annual wealth tax on the 938 billionaires in America, which Graham will be with me to fight for,” Sanders said. Earlier this year, Sanders introduced legislation proposing a 5% annual wealth tax for 938 US billionaires.

Platner has also been cited as an ally in the fight against big tech billionaires such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, warning that otherwise “a handful of billionaires” could control the future of artificial intelligence and robotics.

“Graham understands … we are not going to let a handful of billionaires control the future of this country,” Sanders said.