Longshot Democratic Senate candidate David Costello renewed his calls for Graham Platner to debate him just one week out from the Democratic primary after a new cheating scandal was added to the mountain of bad press plaguing the candidate’s campaign.
“LET’S DEBATE!!! Maine’s US Senate race is not settled and appears to be tightening. Maine’s primary election is next week and there’s still time. The cancelling of the 5 prior debates cut short important policy discussions and shortchanged ME voters. So, LET’s DEBATE,” said Costello on X on Tuesday.
“To reiterate, Maine’s US Senate race is not settled! ME’s DEM primary is next week. And I believe that I have the most fitting background and experience to defeat Senator Susan Collins and to help in advancing real, substantive change in Washington,” he said in a Monday post, apparently capitalizing on Platner’s latest scandal to remind voters of his existence.
Costello’s demand for a last-minute debate comes as Platner has faced backlash over his sexualized account on Kik, a messaging app deemed a “predator’s paradise” by child welfare groups, and revelations that he has cheated on his wife with multiple women.
A debate would likely give Costello a last-minute chance to make his case and, more importantly, remind voters displeased with Platner’s personal controversies that there is an actively campaigning candidate available as an alternative.
Recent polling from UNH released on May 27 found that Costello was polling at just 3 percent, under Gov. Janet Mills’ (D-Maine) ten percent, even after she formally suspended her campaign.
Costello was previously the Democratic nominee for Senate in the 2024 election, where he lost to incumbent Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) in a landslide.
Platner has declined previous debates and seems highly unlikely to consent to a new final-week debate that would likely only harm him and allow opponents to place his controversies under even more scrutiny.
Gov. Mills, like Costello, took Platner’s new controversies as an opportunity to remind voters that she only suspended her campaign and will remain on the ballot.
