Mainers Want Fresh New Faces to Repesent them in Washington, DC Such as Oyster Farmer and US Marine Vet Graham Platner, 41.  He Served Deployments with the US Marines in Iraq and One Deployment in Afghanistan with the US National Guard.

Tonight, Graham Platner spoke at the Wabanaki Alliance Senate Candidate Forum, hosted by the Penobscot Nation, and reaffirmed his commitent to fighting for tribal sovereignty in the Senate.

Platner was only joined by David Costello — Governor Janet Mills did not attend due to a “scheduling conflict” and was instead at an event in Scarborough.

Graham Platner has  pledged to make true sovereignty for Maine tribes the first piece of legislation he introduces in the Senate.  Earlier this year, he testified in solidarity with the Wabanaki Nations in support of LD 395 and LD 785, state legislation that would ensure Maine tribes have access to the same federal benefits and sovereign rights as all other federaly recognized tribes.

“Since the passage of the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act 46 years ago, Maine tribes have been denied the sovereign rights afforded to the more than 570 federally recognized tribes in the United States,” said Graham Platner when he testified……..”If tribal rights can be altered at the whim of the State, they can hardly be characterized as rights at all.  Anything short of sovereignty is subjugation.”

Both Governor Mills and Susan Collins have opposed tribal sovereignty.  Senator Collims also supports the SAVE Act, which would disproportionately disinfranchise Indigenous voters nationwide.

Graham lives in Sullivan with his wife, Amy, just three doors down from the house where he grew up.