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Embattled Maine Democrat deadlocked with Collins despite controversies in key Senate race, new poll shows
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Graham Platner, the populist Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, is in a virtual dead heat in a crucial Senate showdown with longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins, according to a new poll.
Platner, the embattled candidate who has been facing a slew of controversies, stands at 49% support among likely voters questioned in a New York Times/Portland Press Herald/Siena poll released on Monday, with Collins at 47%, and 3% of respondents undecided or refusing to answer. Platner’s two-point edge is within the survey’s sampling error, meaning the contest is virtually tied.
Collins, a moderate Republican who at times votes against President Donald Trump’s agenda, is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate.
The high-profile and likely combustible and expensive race is among a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November’s midterm elections. Republicans currently control the chamber 53-47 and flipping the Senate seat in left-leaning Maine is a key part of the Democrats’ path to retake the majority.
GAME ON IN KEY SENATE RACE AS PLATNER CAPTURES DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION
Platner, a military combat veteran and oyster farmer who is backed by progressive champions Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Rep. Ro Khanna of California, earlier this month easily defeated two longshot rivals in Maine’s Democratic Senate primary.
Platner, who advocates an economically populist agenda as he takes aim at corporate influences and advocates for the working class, also topped two-term Democratic Gov. Janet Mills in the primary. The governor’s name remained on the ballot even though Mills, who had been backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, suspended her bid this spring after significantly trailing Platner in fundraising and polling.
Platner’s victory also came as he was facing one of the roughest stretches of his bid for the U.S. Senate.
He was playing defense the past couple of months amid multiple controversies. They included inflammatory online comments made on Reddit, a well-publicized and now covered-up tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol, recent reports that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married, and allegations from ex-girlfriends of a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes. Platner has called the allegations of violence untrue.
THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE’S MAJORITY
Graham Platner and his wife Amy Gertner acknowledge the crowd at his watch party after winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate at a YMCA in Blue Hill, Maine, on June 9, 2026. (Matthew Symons for Fox News Digital)
A day before the primary, a former high-level staffer from the Platner campaign wrote in the Washington Post that Platner «is not someone who would be good for Maine or for the country.»
The mounting controversies grabbed plenty of attention and triggered some Democrats in the nation’s capital to question whether Platner was damaged goods, but didn’t stop him from riding a populist wave to capture the nomination. More than 9 in 10 Platner supporters questioned in the poll said they had heard about his controversies but that their vote for him was based on where he stands on the issues.
Platner, who has acknowledged his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his three tours of duty in the war in Iraq with the Marines and one tour with the Army National Guard in Afghanistan, apologized for his controversial Reddit posts after some of them made headlines last fall soon after he launched his Senate campaign.
And Platner has said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007 while drinking with fellow Marines stationed in Croatia. He said that he covered up the tattoo with a new design after learning last year that it resembled a Nazi symbol. But allegations from an ex-girlfriend raise questions about Platner’s timeline regarding knowledge of the tattoo.
In his primary night victory speech, Platner emphasized that he’s a changed man.
«If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change,» Platner told the crowd. «And the reason I believe that is because I have lived it. And the reason that I have lived it is because of my wife.»
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Democratic Senate nominee in Maine Graham Platner and his wife speak with supporters following his primary night victory speech, in Blue Hill, Maine on June 9, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News Digital)
The new poll, conducted June 19-26, suggests Platner is having some difficulty winning over some voters who want the Democrats to take back power in Congress.
Fifty-four percent of respondents said they’d like to see the Democrats win back the Senate majority in the midterms, five points higher than the 49% who are supporting Platner. And Collins is capturing 10% of voters who prefer the Democrats control the Senate.
The poll also indicates that a majority of Maine voters don’t believe Platner has «good character» or the «right kind of moral values» and nearly half say he’s too extreme.
By contrast, more than 6 in 10 say Collins has «good character» and the «right kind of moral values» and only a third said she was too extreme for Maine.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine tours a food bank in Harrison, Maine, on May 5, 2026. The food bank was able to expand thanks to federal funding that the senator helped obtain. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
Meanwhile, some Democratic respondents worried that the 41-year-old Platner, who has never held elective office, would be «too inexperienced.»
But there are also warning signs for Collins.
A majority questioned said they thought the senator would be too supportive of Trump and even some of her own supporters worry that the 73-year-old Collins is too old to be an effective senator.
The senator voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial, in 2021, soon after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. And early last year she opposed the confirmation of now-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
But she is also remembered for her 2018 vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, which eventually helped the court’s conservative majority overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that had legalized abortion nationwide.
Beating Collins won’t be easy.
Six years ago, public opinion polls indicated the senator was headed to defeat, but Collins defied expectations and won re-election by topping then-Democratic state House Speaker Sara Gideon by nine points.
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The new survey is the latest to indicate Platner with a slight edge over Collins, although a Pine Tree Poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire late last month suggested Platner held a nine-point lead.
Spotlighting the new poll, the Platner campaign wrote in a social media post that «Susan Collins has the billionaires. The lobbyists. The Super PACs. The Washington establishment. But we have Maine.»
midterm elections, graham platner, polls, republicans, senate elections, maine
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WATCH: Angel mom turns tables on sanctuary politicians with basic question about their priorities
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The mother of an 18-year-old college freshman killed in March by a criminal illegal immigrant asked lawmakers Tuesday to look her in the eye and explain why «people here illegally matter more» than American citizens, delivering emotional testimony during a congressional hearing on sanctuary policies.
Jessica Gorman, whose daughter Sheridan Gorman was fatally shot after going to the Chicago lakefront with friends to see the Northern Lights, accused sanctuary city leaders and politicians of failing to protect her child during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on sanctuary policies.
«I want you to imagine that little girl on the ‘buddy bench,’ that innocent college freshman with a heart full of compassion and a head full of dreams that was gunned down by an illegal immigrant,» Gorman said. «I want you to imagine that was your daughter, not mine. What if she was yours?»
CHICAGO MAYOR ASKED ABOUT CITY’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ALLEGEDLY KILLED COLLEGE STUDENT
Gorman’s remarks came as she invoked a childhood story about Sheridan «stalking» the «buddy bench» at recess, waiting to help classmates who felt lonely or left out.
Sheridan Gorman and her father, Tom Gorman, are seen in a family photo. (Gorman Family/Fox News)
She lamented that her daughter, who spent her life making others feel seen, had been failed by the people responsible for protecting her.
«I bring this back to the buddy bench. I think Congress needs one. Yes, I think every governor, every mayor, every sanctuary city official and politician shifting blame and interest, hiding behind their slogans and talking points should have to all sit on one,» Gorman said.
«I challenge you all to sit down with me. Take my hand, look me in the eye, and then explain to me, because I just don’t understand. Explain why people here illegally matter more than your American citizens. Explain why sanctuary policies matter more than my Sheridan’s life. Explain why cooperation with ICE was too much to ask for, but asking our American parents to bury our children is somehow acceptable. Ask me — I need you to tell me.«
BIDEN BORDER OFFICIALS RELEASED ALLEGED KILLER OF CHICAGO STUDENT ‘DUE TO LACK OF SPACE,’ DOCUMENTS SHOW
The man charged with the murder of a Loyola University freshman in a Rogers Park shooting in March was found with a weapon in jail, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office said. (Cook County Sheriff’s Office)
Gorman identified the man accused of killing her daughter as Jose Medina, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who she said «should not have even been in this country.» She said Medina had previously committed a crime and had an outstanding warrant before he was left on the streets of Chicago.
«But this story is not about him,» Gorman told lawmakers. «The story is about my Sheridan.»
The hearing focused on sanctuary policies and whether jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities are putting Americans at risk. Republicans argued those policies allow criminal illegal immigrants to be released back into communities instead of being turned over to ICE, while Democrats pushed back by arguing such policies preserve trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement.
Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., who chairs the subcommittee, opened the hearing by saying Republicans would continue highlighting the families of victims until sanctuary policies are «rectified.» Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., the ranking member, offered condolences to Gorman and another witness whose daughter was killed, but criticized the hearing as the committee’s fourth on sanctuary cities and argued Democrats should instead be examining the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
Gorman, an 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student, was shot and killed on March 19. She was walking along a lakefront pier at Tobey Prinz Beach with a group of friends when they encountered a masked man hiding behind a lighthouse structure. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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The hearing grew heated even before Gorman testified, when Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., introduced her and was interrupted by Democrats who said his remarks had turned from an introduction into a broader speech on immigration policy.
Gorman later told lawmakers she had never expected to become a public advocate, but said her daughter’s death forced her into the fight.
«I’m a lover, not a fighter,» Gorman said. «I’m not a public speaker. I’m not someone who ever speaks out about things. I have to.»
sanctuary cities, migrant crime, immigration, immigrant rights, illegal immigrants
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La melatonina también podría aliviar el dolor crónico, según un nuevo estudio científico
La melatonina es una hormona producida principalmente por la glándula pineal del cerebro. Su función principal es regular el ciclo sueño-vigilia y sincronizar los ritmos circadianos del organismo.
Desde hace varios años ya se indican comprimidos o cápsulas de melatonina como suplementos o medicamentos, según cada país, para el tratamiento del insomnio. Podría también tener un papel amplio en el tratamiento del dolor.
Científicos de la Universidad de Sídney en Australia revelaron que el uso de la melatonina podría reducir el dolor musculoesquelético crónico con una eficacia comparable a la de analgésicos de uso cotidiano.
El hallazgo cobra peso si se considera que hasta el 47% de la población mundial padece algún tipo de dolor musculoesquelético. Los investigadores señalaron que se trata de una opción económica y accesible que podría transformar la forma en que se aborda este tipo de dolor.
La investigación fue liderada por Kangchao Wu junto con Paulo Ferreira, del Centro de Investigación Musculoesquelética y la Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad de Sidney.
El estudio fue publicado en PAIN, la revista con revisión de pares que edita la Asociación Internacional para el Estudio del Dolor.
Desde Australia, el doctor Kangchao Wu aclaró a Infobae qué se sabe hoy sobre el perfil de paciente que podría llegar a beneficiarse con el uso de la melatonina para el dolor.
“En esta etapa, no podemos identificar un perfil específico de paciente para el que la melatonina funcione mejor que para otros. No hay evidencia suficiente dentro de cada condición musculoesquelética específica o grupo de edad para determinar si sus efectos difieren según el tipo de dolor, la edad u otras condiciones de salud”, afirmó en la entrevista con Infobae.
El dolor musculoesquelético agrupa condiciones como lumbalgia, artrosis y fibromialgia, además de los procesos de recuperación tras cirugías de columna o reemplazos articulares.
Los tratamientos disponibles, como el uso de opioides, antiinflamatorios no esteroideos y paracetamol, suelen traer consigo riesgos de dependencia o efectos adversos que limitan su uso prolongado.
Por eso, la preocupación por las consecuencias del uso extendido de estos medicamentos fue el punto de partida del estudio.
Ante ese panorama, los investigadores evaluaron si la melatonina, ya validada como reguladora del sueño, podía ofrecer algo más.
Buscaron determinar si el suplemento puede reducir la intensidad del dolor crónico y, a la vez, mejorar el descanso de quienes lo padecen. La hipótesis era que la conexión entre dolor y sueño podía convertir a la melatonina en un aliado con doble función.
El equipo analizó datos de 2.028 adultos que participaron en 23 ensayos clínicos aleatorizados, en los que los participantes se asignan al azar a diferentes grupos de tratamiento para obtener resultados más confiables.
Los estudios incluyeron personas con distintos tipos de dolor musculoesquelético y pacientes en recuperación de cirugías articulares y de columna.
Las dosis variaron según el tipo de dolor: entre 3 y 10 mg diarios para el dolor crónico, y entre 1 y 10 mg para el postoperatorio. En la mayoría de los casos, el suplemento se tomaba a la hora de dormir o hasta una hora antes.
Los análisis no identificaron una dosis óptima única, dado que la respuesta fue similar entre los distintos grupos evaluados; la de 3 mg diarios fue la más frecuente en los estudios de dolor crónico.
La melatonina redujo el dolor en cerca de nueve puntos sobre una escala de 0 a 100, y los ensayos más rigurosos registraron reducciones de hasta 10 puntos. Ese nivel de alivio es equiparable al de los analgésicos convencionales más utilizados.
El suplemento también mejoró la calidad del sueño de los participantes. “Para muchos pacientes, el dolor no existe de forma aislada y está estrechamente ligado al mal descanso”, dijo Wu.
“La melatonina parece actuar sobre ambos, lo que la hace especialmente útil para quienes manejan dolor crónico”, añadió.
Los efectos adversos más frecuentes fueron náuseas, mareos y cefaleas, con tasas similares a las del grupo placebo. No se reportaron eventos graves y no hay evidencia de que genere dependencia.
Los investigadores recomendaron consultar con un médico antes de iniciar el uso de melatonina, especialmente en personas que toman otros medicamentos o tienen condiciones de salud preexistentes.
“Después de una consulta médica, puede usarse como complemento de los tratamientos existentes, especialmente para quienes también tienen problemas de sueño”, dijo Wu.
Los científicos reconocieron que la evidencia actual no permite fijar una dosis ideal de melatonina ni recomendar su uso por más de tres meses, y llamó a realizar estudios de mayor escala para consolidar los hallazgos.
“El nivel de alivio del dolor que observamos es comparable al de algunos tratamientos convencionales, pero esto no significa que la melatonina deba reemplazarlos”, dijo Wu. “Más bien, puede ofrecer una opción adicional y más segura dentro de un plan de manejo del dolor más amplio”, resaltó.
El científico detalló: “No podemos afirmar si la melatonina podría reducir la dosis necesaria de opioides, ni si su beneficio potencial se limita a personas que aún no han iniciado ese tratamiento. Porque nuestro estudio no evaluó directamente estas preguntas y no hay evidencia suficiente que compare a personas que ya usan opioides con quienes no los usan. Cualquier cambio en el tratamiento con opioides debe realizarse únicamente bajo supervisión médica”.
“Es muy interesante el resultado del estudio publicado en la revista Pain. Aporta más pruebas a una línea de investigación que hemos venido desarrollando desde hace más de 25 años”, dijo a Infobae el doctor Daniel Cardinali, ex investigador en neurociencias del Conicet y asesor del Vicerrectorado de Investigación e Innovación Académica de la Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA).
En el año 2000, Cardinali con sus colaboradores Gustavo Citera, José Maldonado Cocco y otros colegas publicaron un trabajo en la revista Clinical Rheumatology en el que evaluaron el efecto potencial del tratamiento con melatonina sobre los trastornos del sueño, la fatiga y el dolor en pacientes con fibromialgia.
Los investigadores llevaron a cabo un estudio piloto con 21 pacientes (todas mujeres). Cada paciente recibió 3 miligramos de melatonina por vía oral, 30 minutos antes de dormir, y fue evaluada antes y después del tratamiento.
Al día 30, el recuento de puntos dolorosos, la severidad del dolor en áreas predesignadas, las valoraciones globales del paciente y del médico, y los niveles en la Escala Visual Analógica para medir la calidad o los trastornos del sueño mejoraron de manera estadísticamente significativa.
Otras variables, como la fatiga y el dolor general, mostraron tendencia a la mejoría sin alcanzar significación estadística, y los efectos adversos, como acidez, temblor, ansiedad y somnolencia, fueron leves y transitorios.
cápsulas,dormitorio,mesita de noche,descanso,bienestar,noche
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