Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

Maine Dems Held Debate To Replace Graham Platner — And Oof Was It A Doozy

Screenshot/X/Matt Whitlock

The Maine Senate debate Thursday was filled with odd candidates, including a trans-identifying man who writes songs.

The eight candidates hoping to replace Graham Platner either lost their primary races or have no traditional qualifications to run for the Senate. Platner, who won the party’s June primary, exited the race on July 8 after a former girlfriend accused him of rape.

All of the candidates gave convoluted responses to basic questions. The trans-identifying candidate, Ashley Webb, said he is qualified to be a senator because he writes songs and is transparent.

“Oh I ran for office several times, didn’t win, but I did run. And then um, I’m a songwriter and then I write my own books,” Webb said. “And then, I suppose my transparency, I wouldn’t lie to people and I wouldn’t deceive the people like we’re being deceived right now.”

Webb claimed trans-identifying people were being “dehumanized” because women do not want men in their bathrooms.

“We’re being de-humanized. They say we want to hurt people. I don’t want to hurt anybody, I just want to use the bathroom,” Webb said.

Dr. Nirav Shah, who lost his primary for governor, offered the clearest responses. He claimed that Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins blindly supported Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, though she opposed his nomination.

Former Maine state Sen. Troy Jackson, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former congressional aide Jordan Wood all struggled to match Platner’s energy and enthusiasm. These candidate appeared unable to answer basic questions about policies.

Far-left live-streamer Hasan Piker called the candidates “rizz-less,” according to Politico.

The Maine Democratic Party scheduled its U.S. Senate nominating convention for July 25, which will include 600 delegates, to nominate Platner’s replacement. The party held an emergency meeting on July 9 where more than 100 state committee members voted to hold the unprecedented convention.

Platner’s accuser, Jenny Racicot, told Politico that Platner arrived at her home uninvited in 2021 and forced himself on top of her. Racicot told Platner via text message that she needed her “glute massaged,” a detail which Politico omitted from their reporting. She deleted her messages between herself and Platner and never reported the alleged incident to the police at the time she said it took place.

Platner initially refused to drop out and demanded that he be allowed to choose his replacement. Key Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, called on Platner to exit the race.

Platner was embroiled in other controversies, including a Nazi tattoo and Reddit posts he made about masturbating in portable toilets. Democrats endorsed Platner anyways, with Schumer repeatedly telling reporters that his party would “beat [Republican Maine Sen.] Susan Collins, [and] take back the Senate.”