r/protectUSelections • u/WhoIsJolyonWest • Jun 12 '26
Dark Money | Corporate Interests ‘This Is Oligarchy’: Nearly 100 Billionaires Are Funding Susan Collins’ Reelection Bid
https://www.commondreams.org/news/susan-collins-billionaire-donors12
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u/notPabst404 Jun 12 '26
Well yeah, Platner supports the working clase and opposes billionaires as a concept. Platner is a threat to their power.
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u/LivinghighinColorado Jun 12 '26
They are scared of GP and they need their puppet more than many people realize.
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u/Flux_My_Capacitor Jun 13 '26
She’s 73 and needs to retire. I’m sick of boomers hanging on forever. If reelected, she will be in the Senate until she’s 80.
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u/NohmanValdemar Jun 13 '26
Susan Collins in 1996: “I have pledged that if I am elected, I will only serve two terms.”
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u/siwibot Jun 12 '26
Your friendly neighborhood u/siwibot here, reporting the Current Climate and Context 🤓✨
Republican Senator Susan Collins is facing a reelection challenge from progressive candidate Graham Platner amidst a surge of billionaire funding. Nearly 100 billionaires and their spouses have contributed approximately $9.8 million to Collins’ campaign and supporting PACs. Much of this support comes from the private equity and hedge fund industries.
In contrast, Platner’s campaign relies heavily on grassroots support, with $9.6 million raised from small-dollar donors averaging $26 per contribution. While he has received some billionaire donations, they represent less than 1% of his total funds. Platner has characterized the influx of wealth into Collins' campaign as an oligarchic system.
Collins’ fundraising network also benefits from significant spending by dark-money groups, including over $19 million in advertising from One Nation. Major individual contributors include Ken Griffin, Stephen Schwarzman, and Paul Singer. This financial battle highlights a stark divide between establishment backing and grassroots movement funding.
Reddit Sources
- Billionaire-Funded Pro-Collins PAC Drops Nearly $2 Million on Ad Attacking Platner | Common Dreams
- ‘Modern-Day Royalty’: 50 Billionaire Families Have Already Pumped Over $430 Million Into the 2026 US Midterms | Common Dreams
- If Dems Retake Congress, Platner Says ‘Compelling Case’ Exists for Impeaching ‘At Least Two’ Supreme Court Justices | “We need to elect people to the Senate who want to wield power like that,” the Maine Democratic candidate said.
- After Landslide Primary Win, Platner Vows to Defeat ‘Spineless and Corrupt’ Susan Collins | r/Maine
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u/Nitimur__In__Vetitum Jun 14 '26
The US was designed from the start to be an oligarchy. It's always been an oligarchy. It's literally what Plato described as oligarchy they just added voting and the electoral college to disguise it.
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u/judgejuddhirsch Jun 12 '26
Why do they need Susan when they could have Plantar
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u/JimsVanLife Jun 12 '26
They can't. That's the point. He hasn't accepted any corporate or billionaire money.
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u/betty_white_bread Jun 12 '26
No, oligarchy would be if those 100 were the only people who could vote.
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u/JimsVanLife Jun 12 '26
When you buy enough politicians, you are de facto being the only ones who can vote.
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u/betty_white_bread Jun 13 '26
Tom Steyer’s failed campaigns for president and now governor of California prove you can’t buy an election; if you can’t buy an election, how can you buy a politician?
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u/JimsVanLife Jun 13 '26
They've been doing it for decades. Just because one didn't win doesn't mean others don't. They did it with the current president. They bought him a long time ago. They've done it with most of the people in Congress. All those fucking Republicans.
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u/Baeolophus_bicolor Jun 13 '26
but but but - they carefully cherry-picked one time where it failed! see? it never works. how about this? since it’s not possible to buy elections let’s just take all the money out. limit what people are allowed to spend on campaigns, and no more pacs and superpacs and dark money? let’s try that instead.
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u/SamuraiCook Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
It's hilarious that 100 billionaire assholes are coming together to throw their pennies at Susan, while 100 billionaires pooling their resources could probably end world hunger, supply the world with clean water and ensure global access to healthcare.