As a volunteer on Graham Platner’s campaign for Senate, I must respond to Randy Billings’ article on Graham’s campaign spending (“Graham Platner says he shuns DC consultants. His spending tells a different story,” Feb. 26). Campaign manager Ben Chin is correct that the campaign activities are driven by thousands of volunteers, under the guidance of the 12 paid and unionized staff members.

My experience as a volunteer on the Platner campaign has included knocking on doors and urging voters to participate in the November 2025 election. It was important to Graham that voters were educated about Question 1 that would have limited the voting rights of Mainers. That referendum was overwhelmingly defeated by a majority of Mainers, and it is worth noting that now Sen. Collins is outspoken about her support for the SAVE Act, which, if passed, will restrict our voting rights even more.

In early January, Graham volunteers around the state gathered more than 6,000 signatures in just three days, far more than the needed 2,000. Mainers have also volunteered to help Graham formulate policy, writing briefs on specific issues. My local volunteer group meets regularly to canvas voters, make buttons, paint signs and socialize. We meet on Zoom to hear from lead campaign organizers. Our paid volunteer organizer staff member grew up in Waldo County and recently graduated from Colby College.

I encourage this paper to investigate how Graham has engaged so many volunteers and to report on the movement he is building to develop political power for the people of Maine, not the Epstein class.

Eleanor Weisman
Belfast