Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner appeared with Sen. Bernie Sanders from Vermont on Monday, voicing themes similar to Sanders’ progressive platform. He criticized Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who is in her fifth term, as well as U.S. spending on weapons linked to conflicts in Gaza and Iran. Platner is the leading Democratic candidate aiming to challenge Collins in the November election.

The statements came during a ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ rally in Portland, led by Sanders. The event sought to mobilize progressive activists and boost grassroots organizing ahead of the midterm elections. Portland was one of the stops in Maine for Sanders, Platner, and gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson.

During the rally, Platner emphasized anti-corporate sentiments, urging the crowd to build a ‘political revolution’ and reclaim ‘what is ours.’ He declared, “We are taking back what is ours. We’re going to take it back from the corporations that seek profit, no matter the cost, from the billionaires for whom greed is the point, and from corrupt politicians like Susan Collins, corrupt politicians who have sold us out.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders joined Platner on stage, reaffirming the importance of this election for the progressive movement. He said, “You elect Graham Platner senator, you’re going to transform America.” Sanders linked Platner to his tax proposals aimed at the ultra-wealthy, mentioning his legislative initiative to impose a 5% annual wealth tax on 938 American billionaires. Platner was also depicted as a partner in confronting major tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, with warnings about a few billionaires controlling the future of artificial intelligence and robotics.