Hour 4 of Ottawa Now for Fri. May 8th, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — National political parties tend to steer clear of candidates with controversial pasts because they put future wins at the ballot box at risk. But a U.S. Senate candidate in Maine is bucking that trend and is likely to leave Democrats in an awkward position this year. Maine’s Senate race matters not only for control of the chamber, but also because the state sits on the front line of U.S.-Canada trade, where tariffs, border policy and cross-border supply chains are daily concerns. Oyster farmer Graham Platner, 41, has gained early momentum with his progressive...