Graham Platner supporters celebrate after their candidate’s primary victory

Graham Platner’s supporters clapped, cheered and stomped their feet at the Blue Hill YMCA on Tuesday night as organizers announced he had won the Democratic nomination for Senate.

Speakers throughout the night, including Platner himself, characterized the campaign as a movement that’s bigger than him and vowed to beat U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in November.

It was Platner’s first electoral victory, and though not unexpected, it came days after another round of national headlines scrutinizing his past — most recently, texts to other women after his marriage and behavior in relationships that some past girlfriends called “unsettling” in a recent New York Times story.

That’s led some national Democrats to question the oyster farmer’s ability to oust Collins after 30 years. But supporters didn’t doubt he could, speaking of redemption, a policy platform focused on working Mainers and a candidate they believe will fight for them.

Numerous attendees said they felt stories about Platner’s past were establishment attempts to smear him that won’t work on voters here. Some empathized with his past struggles and said they’re more focused on his message.

“They’re campaigning so hard against him, because he is a normal person,” said Romane Taylor, 62, a retired corrections worker, while leaving the polls in Caribou earlier in the day.

Taylor also highlighted Platner’s youth and a feeling that he represents real working Mainers, unlike Collins. That sentiment was shared by numerous supporters, including David Hardison, a 70-year-old farmer from Dedham who arrived to the YMCA in a truck decorated with anti-Trump and anti-Collins sentiments.

“He’s young and he’s got balls,” Hardison said of his support for Platner.

He wishes the recent revelations weren’t there, Hardison said, but feels everyone has skeletons in their proverbial closets and Republican candidates have darker histories.

Taking the stage shortly after the race was called, Platner thanked his parents, wife and supporters and vowed to earn the trust and faith of the state while fighting for working Mainers.

Frank Donnelly of Lamoine has known Platner for the candidate’s whole life and is positive he will win in November, he said after Platner’s victory speech. Donnelly said Collins is hard to beat, and later said “who knows” what will happen, but noted Platner has a different platform.

“We’ve all got a past,” Donnelly said of recent Platner headlines.

Genevieve Lemire came to Blue Hill from Pembroke, where she’s now running for the Maine House herself after being inspired by Platner.

Lemire feels Platner has a sense of how to turn things around for the country. She’s encouraged by his philosophy of representing working people and validating all points of view.

“The challenge will be making people see who he really is,” she said.

She believes that can be done because people see the country is going in the wrong direction and needs a dramatic change, she said. She also wants races that focus more on policy than sensationalism.

She saw her own family members struggle after returning from Vietnam, something she recognizes in Platner.

“People go through things,” she said.

More than that, he’s taken accountability and is working to improve, she said. In her view, that’s more than most do.

Bunny Fallon of Ellsworth was once skeptical of Platner, but how he handled negative press helped sway her. She thinks he speaks the language of working people and says he’ll fight to change the system.

Kimo Bailey, who votes in California but has long family roots in Maine and grew up in Freeport, expects recent headlines will fade.

He’s known Platner’s mother for decades and said he, and others, expected opposition research to come out — a form of outside influence he doesn’t think Mainers will bend to. He also believes the message will win.

“Mainers are not easily bought off,” he said. “All people have to do is listen to what [Platner] says.”

After his speech, Platner visited with supporters and accepted a gift of a handmade blanket.

“We’re gonna beat Collins, I can feel it,” a man said while walking toward the exit.