Graham Platner rolls out anti-corruption platform in Senate race

 Graham Platner speaks during a rally on Thursday about his anti-corruption policy proposals in front of the building in Portland that houses the office of Sen. Susan Collins. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer) [](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) _[Read all of our coverage](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) of Maine's 2026 election or stay up to date with the latest developments through the [Maine Political Report](https://www.pressherald.com/mprnewsletter/) in your inbox or [text messages](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/01/11/maine-political-news-sent-right-to-your-phone-sign-up-for-text-alerts-from-our-editor/) from politics editor Kirby Wilson._ PORTLAND — Graham Platner, Maine’s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, rolled out on Thursday a suite of policies aimed at tackling corruption. His proposals include getting big money out of politics and prohibiting lawmakers and their spouses from trading stocks or benefiting from government contracts. He also wants to extend the amount of time a former lawmaker has to wait to register as a lobbyist after leaving Congress, and adopt a lifetime ban on former lawmakers lobbying for foreign interests. The policies are aimed at hammering a line of attack against his opponent, five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins, whom he routinely calls “spineless and corrupt.” At an event announcing the rollout, Platner, a political newcomer, pointed to a [Maine Monitor](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/12/nearly-100-billionaires-and-their-spouses-have-donated-to-reelect-susan-collins/) report about how Collins and various committees supporting her reelection have gotten donations from nearly 100 billionaires and their spouses. “Maine deserves a senator who works for the people who actually live here, not the billionaires who don’t,” Platner said at the news conference outside of Collins’ office. Related [Graham Platner’s first federal disclosure offers few details on personal finances](https://www.pressherald.com/2025/11/19/graham-platners-federal-disclosure-offers-few-details-on-personal-finances/) This is Platner’s fifth policy rollout of the campaign. Previous proposals focused on taxing billionaires, defending democracy and the Constitution, improving healthcare (i.e. Medicare for All) and [energy](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/08/graham-platner-calls-for-end-to-federal-gas-diesel-taxes/). Advertisement The anti-corruption rollout shows how Platner’s campaign is looking to turn Collins’ nearly three decades in Washington against her. In recent weeks, Collins has toured the state highlighting the projects funded by $1.5 billion in federal earmarks she has secured as a member and current chair of the Senate Appropriation Committee. The policy rollout also highlights a concern that crosses party lines. A June survey of 2,000 voters nationwide by the [Brennan Center for Justice](https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/poll-voters-want-solutions-government-corruption) found that 92% of respondents, including 90% of Republicans and 93% of Democrats and independents, believe that corruption is a big problem at every level of government. In Maine, voters overwhelmingly approved a citizens referendum to limit contributions to political action committees in 2024. The measure passed with nearly 75% support, but it was ruled [unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court judge](https://www.pressherald.com/2025/07/15/maines-voter-approved-campaign-finance-limits-deemed-unconstitutional/). Advocates have [appealed the decision](https://www.pressherald.com/2025/10/24/maines-effort-to-limit-some-political-contributions-now-before-federal-appeals-court/). The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that limits on political spending are unconstitutional. Platner said he would support a constitutional amendment, as well as state-level efforts, to place limits on dark money groups, which aren’t required to disclose donors and can spend unlimited amounts on campaigns. Advertisement Platner’s anti-corruption platform would affect the executive and legislative branches, as well as spending in the defense budget. It would require the president to divest from any private business interests, or place them in a blind trust, among other things. Platner is proposing what he calls “the Collins Rule,” which would prohibit senators from “funneling money to their spouses.” Platner’s campaign has accused Collins of directing $76 million in federal contracts to a lobbying firm that her husband, Thomas Daffron, had worked for. But the awarding of contracts is done by federal agencies managed by the executive branch, not Congress, which appropriates the money to each agency. Steve Abbott, Collins’ campaign manager and longtime adviser, disputed Platner’s claims and said the Democratic candidate is accusing the senator of committing a crime. Advertisement “He’s lying,” Abbott told reporters, as Platner’s aides watched. “Susan Collins has not funneled any money to Tom Daffron. That’s against the law. That’s a criminal activity. He’s accusing her of engaging in a criminal activity with no evidence.” Platner is also proposing to ban stock trading by members of Congress, who are privy to information not known to the general public. He said violating such a ban should be criminal offense, subject to jail time. “As long as sitting members of Congress are allowed to hold and trade stocks and bonds connected to the industries that they have a hand in regulating, the public will keep asking whether the policy decisions that they pass serve our best interests or serve their bank accounts,” he said. Collins has argued that insider trading is already against the law. And Collins co-authored the STOCK Act, the current law on the books requiring stock trades to be disclosed by members of Congress within 45 days. Platner said that law has no teeth since violations are only punishable with a $200 fine. “As long as some kind of punishment is not going to outstrip the money you make in breaking the law, people will continue to break a law,” he said. “It’s not actually a law if it doesn’t come with the teeth of enforcement.” Collins told reporters in Sanford in March that she would support additional restrictions, including requiring stocks be managed in a blind trust. She stressed that she doesn’t own or trade stocks — the investments that have drawn scrutiny are her husband’s, she’s noted. She said Daffron’s stocks are managed by an outside adviser. Copy the Story Link Tagged: [election 2026](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/), [Graham Platner](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/graham-platner/), [senate 2026](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/senate-2026/), [Susan Collins](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/susan-collins/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/randy-billings) [Randy BillingsStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/randy-billings) Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined. [More by Randy Billings](https://www.pressherald.com/author/randy-billings)