***Breaking News*** Janet Mills Suspends Campaign For U.S. Senate

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Developing ...

[FarPoint]

1. Sooooooo........

Let me go look this person up...... clueless as to what state, party for starters....

i will be back to help you out.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. She was running to replace Susan Collins

It's one of the most followed races in the Senate and one of the seats most likely to flip. We are supposed to be the informed ones.

[FarPoint]

6. Yes, I Googled the name...

News notes say Gov. of Maine suspends Democratic campaign for US Senate...she is 78 years old., ahead of the Primaries......

[Mysterian]

44. We're also the ones with full-time jobs, etc.

Without time to keep fully informed on every fucking election in the USA.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

45. I regret my post upset you.

[Mysterian]

50. I regret you chose to be judgmental with another poster

[DemocratSinceBirth]

52. Sir, his tone was sarcastic.

If he asked me politely to elucidate I would have been more than happy to. We are now filling the thread with off topic information. If you wish to continue our conversation in private, i.e. DU mail, I would be glad to oblige you " "

[Prairie Gates]

3. Maine governor running against upstart Graham Platner

She is nearing 80 and should never have been running for a six year term in the first place.

Platner has run a good campaign despite numerous hiccups and a concerted effort by centrists (including close to home - ahem) to kneecap him. He's clearly our best hope of picking up the seat.

[bearsfootball516]

11. You may get heat, but you're absolutely correct.

The Democratic party is currently going through a youth and relatability movement, and Maine Dems have made it clear through polling from the past couple months that they want someone younger than Mills, and feel like they can relate better to him than Mills. There's bounds more energy and momentum behind him.

[sheshe2]

88. Senator King-ME won reelection in 2024.

He is 82 years old.

[EdmondDantes_]

13. A nazi tattoo isn't really a hiccup

While I agree Mills shouldn't have been running, I'm not sure why if I were in Maine I'm supposed to ignore a giant red flag like a nazi tattoo with no evidence he's changed given his recent appearance on an antisemitic YouTube show.

Fortunately I'm not a voter in Maine.

[2naSalit]

21. Unfortunately...

I am and there's more than one red flag waving in front of the oyster guy and I am not sure I can vote for him in any race.

We'll end up with concerned susan for yet another term, I fear.

[W_HAMILTON]

23. I'm a progressive and I get problematic progressive vibes from him.

Think Fetterman.

Think Gabbard.

Think Turner.

I have no doubt that Mills would have been a reliable Democratic vote because she's been a reliable Democrat for decades. And while she was being a reliable Democrat, Platner -- who most people didn't even know just a couple of years ago -- was getting a Nazi tattoo and spouting MAGA-like rhetoric online.

I sure hope we don't get burned again with this guy.

[eShirl]

39. Think Bernie Sanders.

[questionseverything]

69. Exactly what does that mean?

[displacedvermoter]

29. Centrists are people who still think he lied

about his death's head tattoo, I guess.

[mcar]

32. I'm not a centrist, I'm a liberal

and I have many concerns about Platner that I have voiced on this site, Democratic Underground.

I thought we were allowed to offer constructive criticism of candidates/elected Democrats. Or is that just reserved for Schumer and Jeffries?

[Prairie Gates]

46. Who said you're not allowed?

Push back isn't censorship. Having to defend your position isn't victimhood.

[mcar]

48. Huh?

You accused people who have genuine concerns about Platner of "trying to kneecap him." Then you put the words "censorship" and "victimhood" in my mouth - words I never said.

It is a fact that Platner has a Nazi tattoo. It is a fact that he, in the near past, made sexist and racist statements. It is a fact that he claimed that rape victims have to take responsibility for their rapes if they had been drinking prior to their assaults - all the while excusing his Nazi tattoo because he was drunk at the time.

I don't have to defend anything. These are facts.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

86. Well, Platner is the presumptive nominee per Chuck Schumer so you should stop denigrating him.

Vote blue no matter who

[mcar]

87. Like some here have stopped denigrating Schumer and Jeffries?

I don't live in ME. I hope Platner beats Collins and I hope he is truly reformed. I will exercise my right of constructive criticism.

[mr715]

68. If it is constructive...

What could he do, given your criticism, to earn your support?

I suspect the answer is "Nothing, he will never get my support". That means your criticism isn't constructive.

[mcar]

70. Run for mayor or city council or something like that

and prove, by his actions, that he has changed.

[mr715]

71. Well, I can't argue with that... because it is the right answer.

But it is no longer a viable one. He is going to be the Democratic Senate candidate for ME.

[mcar]

72. For ME, you mean

And yes, he is. I will hope he wins and that he follows through on this promises. I will not hesitate to criticize if he does not.

[mr715]

74. Thank you -- edited to correct.

Apologies to Maine and Mainers.

Criticism is good.

[dutch777]

60. Maine is a unique political animal so Platner can win despite some foibles, Wonder why she quit?

[Boo1]

73. Should Bernie have not ran in 24?

He was 82 then.

[mr715]

75. It was his choice.

He didn't win. So it is kinda moot.

Anyone can run, at any age, for whatever reason the spirit moves them.

But the voters didn't select him.

[Boo1]

83. He absolutely won

He's in the Senate isn't he?

[NoRethugFriends]

18. So you're proud to be that far out of the loop on this site?

[MLAA]

20. One of the reasons we are a well informed group is that DUers generously share their knowledge when

asked about something someone else is not familiar with.

[MineralMan]

40. I can't see how that is productive, frankly.

Not everyone follows races in every state. In fact, only a few do that.

If someone asks, we can simply answer. Frankly, I pay little attention to races in states like Maine until closer to the election. I was glad to see someone ID the candidate early in this thread. I don't vote there. I don't campaign there. I don't donate there. So, I don't follow elections there closely.

We don't need to criticize other DUers for not knowing every primary candidate in every state. That's just plain unfriendly.

[SocialDemocrat61]

9. I see what you did there lol

[yorkster]

15. Rapier-like wit award goes to...WG.

Thanks for a much needed laugh.

[MineralMan]

41. Nicely played!

[Sympthsical]

5. Welp, people are going to have to make their peace with that one

I'm not sold on Platner either, but boy howdy has it been a thing here the past few months.

[2naSalit]

22. We need another candidate for this race...

I have no desire to vote for or be represented by this guy.

Two things that worry me, he'll either lose to collins or be another fetterman because he is sure he knows best with all his inexperience.

Too many red flags on this guy and I can't get behind supporting him. Vertical learning curves don't cut it for me.

FUCK!!!

[hlthe2b]

7. Her DEM primary opponent was seen as the only path to defeat Susan Collins...

But, boy, does he (Graham Platner) leave me (and many others) with qualms, given that in his background, which I don't have the time to pull up right now.

Well, we shall see.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. Platner may or may not be my cup of tea.

At times like this I repeat the Serenity Prayer. Governor Mills endorsed him in her withdrawal statement.

[Fiendish Thingy]

12. Here's an interview with Platner by Jon Stewart

It’s 90 minutes long, so hopefully covers everything and anything you might have qualms about.

[question everything]

28. Alaska's Murkowski won as a write in. Perhaps this is the path for Mainers (Mainers?)

to follow if one can be found.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. I was sorry to hear this

Link to tweet

[NCDem47]

14. Fingers crossed Planter isn't another Fetterman.

I can’t keep up with all this. Has Planter said all the right things in this moment and that’s why Maine Dems are going with him?

[themaguffin]

19. it sucks that we even have to do this. It's unfortunate that there isn't a candidate who has

a record in office as a mayor, state legislature or in the House. That still doesn't mean that they would be great, but it sure beats someone running for Senate with zero record and coupled with red flags.

I hope this works out. We've been burned too much.

[displacedvermoter]

30. I agree that he will probably lose to Collins

short of legendary blue wave. My hope -- or fear? -- is that many Trump voters will kinda dig is earthy demeanor and his frequent slips of the tongue as worth voting for.

I guess I am just a centrist cause I don't like that this is the best we got...

[2naSalit]

31. I don't see him...

Being strong on women's issues like we need. I think he's condescending about our issues and I don't have any good reason to vote for him. He has a steep hill to climb to get my vote. I'm still voting for Mills in the primary, she's going to be on the ballot so I'll be choosing her anyway.

This has ruined my day in a major way.

[PatSeg]

62. It is hard to believe that

Democrats couldn't come up with a better candidate for Maine. It felt so much like we could win this one if we had a good candidate.

[2naSalit]

65. Mills was the favorite...

I have nothing more to say since I've been alerted on twice now.

Taking a break for a while so...

[PatSeg]

67. Oh ouch!

Yep, better to just let it go, as there is nothing we can do about it now.

[Ace Rothstein]

80. Mills was getting crushed in the last few polls.

She wasn't even hitting 30%.

[bearsfootball516]

85. Platner has been leading Mills in primary polls by 30-40 points for the last couple months.

Here's a link to those polls, if you don't believe me.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/maine-us-senate-election-polls-2026.html

Not to mention, he performs better in polling against Collins than Mills does.

[bucolic_frolic]

17. Be of good cheer. Sure things have not beaten Collins in the past

It takes a quirky hot mess to shake independents and women from Collins ... maybe imperfect medicine will be stronger on election day.

[2naSalit]

25. Sure things have not beaten Collins in the past...

All have been novices, I am far ore concerned than collins. Never liked her but this the first time I have a chance to vote against her and look what we get for a contender, mr machoman.

FUCK.

[bucolic_frolic]

35. I know zero about this race

But I will add this observation. Opponents did not adequately confront Collins on issues, on her record. Platner seems unapologetic, unabashed, unwilling to be pinned down by his shortcomings. Maybe that confidence gives an element of genuine, of read to get to work over stalled progress. Collins has been stonewalling a long time. That's all I got for you.

[2naSalit]

37. I don't see him...

Winning, first of all. If by some fluke of fate he actually succeeds to the Senate, I don't see him fighting for women's rights, to begin with, and I don't care for his demeanor on other issues. I don't have a good feeling about him at all.

Since Mills will be on the ballot, I will still vote for her. If not, I'll write in her name.

[2naSalit]

26. I need to see...

Who is funding platner, I have a bad feeling about him.

[questionseverything]

36. I googled him and it says 98% of his donations are $100. Or less

No pac money

Some unions are backing him

[2naSalit]

43. Thanks.

Still don't like him.

[Emile]

53. Doesn't pass your Purity Test?

[mcar]

57. Nazi tattoos and misogyny are a purity test now?

[Emile]

58. Tearing down the democratic candidate

is not cool!

[mcar]

59. ...

We tear down Democrats here on a daily basis. If we can offer "constructive criticism" about other Dems - you know, like calling them weak, spineless corporatists - we can certainly bring up concerns about a not-yet-nominee who has a Nazi tattoo, which he excuses because he got it when he was drunk. And yet he blames rape victims who've drank alcohol before their assaults and says they have to take responsibility for their rape.

This place slays me sometimes.

[riversedge]

79. well said

[MorbidButterflyTat]

76. Good one!

[2naSalit]

61. Doesn't pass...

My smell test. I haven't heard unequivocal support for women's issues.

You can berate me all you like on this board, not going to sway how I see things.

Not going to argue with you about it anymore. Have a nice day.

[Ace Rothstein]

27. Seemed like a low effort campaign.

I have a feeling she didn't even want to run and was pushed into it by party leaders.

[Renew Deal]

33. I wonder if Platner's reddit posts made him more popular

It essentially proved his opinions were genuine.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

34. Que sera sera

[OLDMDDEM]

38. I'm glad she did. We need younger people representing the electorate.

[democrank]

42. If I'm remembering correctly

Ben Rhodes, President Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor, recently spent some time with Graham Platner. I think Rhodes wrote something about this. I’m looking for that information….

Sounds like the donations to Mills were not quite what she had hoped for.

[aocommunalpunch]

47. Go Platner.

He’s going to be the nominee, so stop with the lack of support for Democratic nominees.

[WarGamer]

49. Is there a strategy to deal with Nazi tattoos... etc?

[mr715]

64. Platner covered his up.

Susan Collins is still covered with prison tats. No one is asking her to cover her tattoos up.

[RandySF]

51. Oh it just gets better every day.

[BannonsLiver]

54. This is complicated.

On one hand the tattoos and past statements are terrible and could be an indicator of future behavior. On the other, he annoys some people who I think have terrible instincts when it comes to politics, or who are overly sanctimonious. Glad I’m not voting in Maine. I guess I’ll leave it up to Mainers.

[Sneederbunk]

55. Will the DNC support Platner?

[Ace Rothstein]

81. They have to if they are serious about winning the Senate.

[bearsfootball516]

84. They already announced their support

[Bluestocking]

56. Now the Republicans hold on to the seat

Directly or indirectly. Oh well. At least if indirectly the Dems could potentially control the Senate.

[mr715]

63. Stop. No.

There is nothing to support this.

Platner will likely win the election and he will vote for Democratic leadership.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

77. How do you know this?

[mr715]

78. He is running as a Democrat.

I know that as much as others know he will not.

Manchin, Sinema, and Fetterman all voted for Democratic leadership.

[Ace Rothstein]

82. Platner has actually been polling better than Mills for the GE.

[milestogo]

66. Its a shame that it costs so much to run for office.

It gives all of us fewer choices.