I hadn’t heard of Graham Platner until a few weeks ago. Now, I’m all in. He’s right for Maine, and he’s right for America.

Platner’s background confirms his deep Maine roots, his working class bonafides — lives in the small town of Sullivan, works as a successful oyster farmer, serves as the Chair of the Sullivan Planning Board and as town Harbor Master, served four tours overseas as a Marine, attended George Washington University thanks to the GI bill, married with a young family, dreams for a better future.

In sum, Graham Platner knows what it means to be one of the working class people in Maine and across America), who have been left behind as the nation’s wealthy have effectively taken over the government and America. The millionaires and billionaires. The oligarchs.

But wait, you might say, this guy has no political experience. Guess what. Part of Donald Trump’s appeal way back in 2016 was: “He’s not a politician. He’s a businessman. He’ll fix the system and drain the swamp.” Trump, the ultimate conman, skillfully convinced blue collar voters around the country that he cared about them, which he doesn’t. Never has, never will. (NOTE: Remember when JD Vance referred to Trump as “opiate for the masses” before he sold his soul to work for the opiate distributor?) He neither fixed the system nor drained the swamp.

Trump also tapped into the underlying racism and sexism that still exist. In the 2024 presidential election, Trump spewed his usual “I can fix everything” garbage. He said he’d bring down grocery prices. He hasn’t. He said he’d fix inflation. He hasn’t. He said he’d end the wars in Ukraine and Israel right away, claiming to be the great peacemaker, worthy of a Nobel Prize. He’s failed miserably, while continuing to alienate our closest allies and embolden Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu.

He said he’d deport the “bad illegals,” meaning undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes. His draconian efforts on immigration have gone after everyone, not just criminals. He has, however, managed to enrich his rich buddies in countless ways: the “big beautiful bill” to preserve tax cuts for the wealthy while ballooning the deficit and the crypto scheme, to name but two examples. He’s even selling MAGA merch from the White House. He’s also shown his complete disregard for the Constitution and the justice system, testing limits every day in every way. He kicked off his second term (revenge tour is a better description) by pardoning the Jan. 6 prisoners and planning retribution against anyone and everyone who ever stood up to him.

Thousands of “No Kings” protests suggest that the vast majority of Americans don’t endorse Trump’s dictatorial aspirations. Those who believed his lies during the 2024 campaign are wondering if they were duped. (You were.)

Platner understands why people like him feel left out. He also understands the Trump voter, as many of his friends voted for Trump. But he puts the blame on the rigged system that rewards the wealthy on the backs of everyone else, especially the working class. He’s running to win a Senate seat and do his part to try to fix the system he terms “rigged.”

His meteoric rise in less than a month speak to his broad appeal, not just to people like me who want to see Collins ousted, but also to members of the working class who seek better lives. Mainers have been showing up in droves wherever he speaks. Over 6,000 people attended the Cross Arena in Portland at an event hosted by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to showcase Platner and Troy Jackson, Maine gubernatorial candidate.

Graham is a strong, compelling, straight-talking speaker. He blames both sides (Republicans and Democrats) for the current situation, noting that politicians of all stripes work for donors and lobbyists, not for the everyday citizen. It would be hard to dispute that assertion. He’s for women rights and gay rights; he’s for term limits; he’s for raising the minimum wage; he’s for investing in America, not funding endless wars; he’s for Medicare for all; he supports unions; he supports the VA.

He rues the fact that hardworking people holding down many jobs can’t afford a house or health care or food and clothing, while the wealthiest Americans get richer on the backs of everyday people. He believes that taxpayers want to pay to support schools and hospitals in America, not to bomb them in Gaza.

When an interviewer asked him about Collins’ seniority, which is reflected in her position as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Platner simply asked, “Are working-class men and women better off since Collins got that title?” Boom. Mic drop.

Collins, it must be added, carries huge baggage into this campaign, reflected in her dismal poll ratings. People haven’t forgotten her naive claim that “Trump learned his lesson” after the first impeachment trial. Or her support of Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court, which helped lead to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Or her support for the nomination of RFK, Jr., as Secretary of Health and Human Services, which has proven to be a disastrous choice by any measure.

And, oh yes, they haven’t forgotten that when Collins first ran for election to the Senate she promised to serve only two six-year terms. She’s now nearing the end of her fourth term and seeks a fifth term.

Moreover, her refusal to hold town halls speaks to her utter disregard for the people she purports to serve. The “use by date” has come and gone.

I sense a Graham Platner victory in the 2025 midterms. His overall message is clear, and his timing is right. In next week’s column, I’ll offer some free words of advice for Sen. Susan Collins.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little Old:” columns. dtreadw575@aol.com.