Arizona Senator Gallego endorses Maine Senate candidate Graham Blatner

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine Democrat Graham Blattner has picked up another high-profile endorsement in his bid to flip a key Senate seat blue, marking another sign of the oyster farmer and veteran fighter’s political resilience even as he continues to face controversy throughout his campaign.

Arizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego announced Monday that he is backing Blatner, saying the first-time nominee “reflects the determination and independence that defines Maine.”

“Graham Blatner is the kind of fighter Maine hasn’t seen in a long time, someone who tells you exactly what he thinks, who doesn’t owe anything to special interests, and wakes up every day thinking about working families,” said Gallego, who won an Arizona Senate seat in 2024 by more than 2 points while Trump carried the state by nearly 6 points.

Blatner has previously received the endorsement of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich, a Democrat.

However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has endorsed Blattner’s main opponent, Maine Gov. Janet Mills.

Both Blattner (41 years old) and Mills (78 years old) hope to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins (73 years old), who has served five terms and announced last month her candidacy for another term. Winning in Maine is crucial to Democrats’ efforts to regain control of the Senate. The Democratic Party needs to pick up four seats to regain the Senate majority, and they aim to do so in Maine, North Carolina, Alaska and Ohio.

Read more: Maine’s Graham Blattner believes voters will ignore his past to support a new kind of candidate

Blatner gained traction with his anti-establishment image and message of economic equality. He has continued to move forward despite the controversy surrounding his old social media posts and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which he recently covered up.

Gallego is among the Democrats named as potential 2028 presidential contenders. Last fall, he hitchhiked through New Jersey, Virginia and Florida, campaigning for Democrats who won their elections.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and look forward to joining him as a fellow Marine and combat infantryman in the U.S. Senate,” Blattner said in a statement.

Croci reported from Providence, Rhode Island.