'We could have an extremist court': Graham Platner calls for Susan Collins's removal in November

Democratic politician Graham Platner urged Maine voters to remove long-time Senator Susan Collins from power, as it could lead to an "extremist court," that would remain in place "for a generation." After winning his primary, Platner was confirmed as the Democratic candidate to go up against the incumbent Collins. However, the road until this point has not been easy for the Democrat, who has been subjected to intense scrutiny as the midterm elections draw closer.

He shared an image on X of Supreme Court judges, two of whom were in their late 70s. Platner claimed that the Trump administration could have multiple vacancies to fill over the next couple of years, and that is why it was important to remove Collins from the United States Senate. In her three-decade-long career, the 73-year-old has voted to appoint several judges, both in the Supreme Court and the country's smaller courts. One such appointment was Brett Kavanaugh.

Collins had voted to confirm Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018, but she was unhappy with his decision to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion, as per a report in The New York Times. "I do not regret that vote,"  Collins said. "When I look at a justice, I look at their qualifications, their integrity, their background, and their experience in reaching a decision. Obviously, I'm disappointed in that decision."

However, she has made recent decisions that mirror her vote to confirm Kavanaugh. As per the Maine Beacon, Collins voted to confirm Kathleen "Katie" Lane to a lifetime of federal judgeship. Lane was confirmed to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. Like Kavanaugh, she, too, has tried to curtail Americans' right to abortion on several occasions. She had urged the Montana Supreme Court to overturn a 23-year-old precedent protecting the constitutional right to abortion in 2022.

The Maine Senator voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, who, along with Kavanaugh, played a crucial role in overturning Roe v. Wade. Collins also voted against the Women's Health Protection Act, which would have restored federal abortion protections. An ad from her opponent's campaign took advantage of the Kavanaugh appointment and claimed that the Republican had lied about protecting abortion rights. "Susan Collins told us she would protect Roe v. Wade; she lied," the ad states. "Now, she won't even admit she was wrong." 

Platner, on the other hand, has his own past to worry about leading up to the November midterms. According to CNN, three women whom the Democratic candidate had dated in the past stated that he had a drinking problem and accused him of infidelity, demeaning behavior toward women, and, in one account, physical intimidation. There were reports that Platner got a tattoo resembling the German Nazi Party's symbol. He has since revealed that the tattoo has been covered.

Collins has reacted to the allegations against her opponent and called them serious. "The allegations against Graham Platner are extremely troubling and serious. He owes the people of Maine a detailed answer," she had said to reporters.