The Democratic Senate candidate who defies easy categorization 
Graham Platner’s roots complicate the blue-collar image his campaign projects.
From The Times
May 23, 2026

Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee in one of the country’s marquee Senate races, says he’s never been close to money and power.

Article Image

His prep-school past and family ties tell a more complex story. →

MORE TOP STORIES

A historical engraving of an emaciated man and child beside a dying ox, with the skeleton of another ox visible in the distance.

A powerful El Niño is forming. If history is a guide, it could hit hard. →

Uniformed individuals carry an individual across a city street as a person in a blue dress follows closely behind.

Ideas

Actually, Democracy dies in H.R. →

A person on a horse with a herd of cows in a desert landscape.

Opinion

A cattle ranch is doing what Ivy League colleges can’t. →

It's a pivotal moment for American politics. Join us for 2026 and beyond.

Sign up for the On Politics newsletter.

It's a pivotal moment for American politics. Join us for 2026 and beyond.

Get it in your inbox

If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this message because you signed up for updates from The New York Times.

To stop receiving From The Times, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings.

Subscribe to The Times

Connect with us on:

facebookxinstagramwhatsapp

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

Zeta LogoAdChoices Logo

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018