I am a Maine resident, a woman and I plan to vote for Graham. There are no perfect candidates. I’ve been to one of his town halls. He doesn’t take money from super pacs and I believe he has our best interest at heart. Susan Collins’ voting record is horrific and we cannot continue to allow her to follow and support the current administration’s agenda. Onward!
Good post, thank you. I am not in Maine, so my opinion doesn't matter much, but I am a woman, which makes Platner a hard moral choice, but I'm also a brown immigrant living in 2026 America, which makes Collins a choice that could have me in a concentration camp someday (she just voted, again, to fund ICE as the most well funded paramilitary in the world, having as target, people like me).
So if I lived in Maine, this would be a survival choice for me.
I live in Maine and really appreciate your perspective. The struggle is real. My husband served in the Navy for 30+ years and Grahams behavior is disturbing. Hopefully that is behind him. It is sad when you have to vote for the lesser of two evils. Collins cannot remain in office!
I’m not in Maine but I’m disturbed by the choices Mainers have. I am the daughter of immigrant parents & ancestors & my soul is in pain for every immigrant being jailed & deported.
The cruelty of this regime has been perpetuated by Senator Collins. She definitely needs to be removed.
Is there no other choice but this man who, by all accounts, is yet another misogynist with a creepy tattoo that somehow just happened to show up on his chest?
(BTW elaborate tattoos don’t just magically appear one drunken night. They take multiple visits to a tattoo parlor. It takes intention.)
How desperate have we Dems become to believe we have to vote for this type of person?
Signed, Californian here who was once convinced Swalwell was a good guy.
What breaks my heart is we could have had a wonderful senator in Sara Gideon. No controversy or scandals, stood for everything Democrats champion. But here we are. We will support a lesser man and call him "flawed" but somehow couldn't support a superior woman. I'm just so sick of that happening over and over and over...
Thank you for this post. I am a Mainer and a lifelong Dem. I am seriously concerned about Platner and his dismissal of the intersection of race, gender, and economy. He frames everything in the binary of “have-and have-nots” and he seems to have very little awareness of the other forces and nuances that affect our daily lives. He has NO demonstrated leadership skills, nor a history that suggests to me that he can run a SENATE office. Yes, he is smart (ish) yes he “sort of” speaks to his past and some level of ownership. The fact that the argument always seems to go to “well, he’s better than Collins,” means little to me. It is the kind of dismissal that people have used to prop up mediocre white men for centuries. If this candidate were a woman or a POC, they would be OUT. We don’t forgive these groups the same way we forgive, laud, and support white men. Instead, we have more of the same old BS that we been suffering with for years. We are watching people prop up the flimsy tenets of patriarchy, just in a new form, and calling it our “best greatest hope.” Thank you for your analysis and for your statement about holding him accountable. This is a hard one. I KNOW that we need to flip the senate. I will be there watching, calling, writing, and advocating for Mainers every step of the way.
"What we are owed is a government that answers to the people it serves." Susan Collins has proven over & over that she does not put citizens first. Platner has not yet had the chance. Also... let's do a deep scandal finding mission on Collins and post it for all to see. How she can be bought, paid off, enriched herself & her husband who was married when they got together. Is Platner perfect - obviously not. But are Democrats going to turn on him like they did Biden & Harris & Walz ..... if enough stories are spread & more expose's are written I guess they .....might.
I am a Maine resident, a woman and I plan to vote for Graham. There are no perfect candidates. I’ve been to one of his town halls. He doesn’t take money from super pacs and I believe he has our best interest at heart. Susan Collins’ voting record is horrific and we cannot continue to allow her to follow and support the current administration’s agenda. Onward!
Well said.
Good post, thank you. I am not in Maine, so my opinion doesn't matter much, but I am a woman, which makes Platner a hard moral choice, but I'm also a brown immigrant living in 2026 America, which makes Collins a choice that could have me in a concentration camp someday (she just voted, again, to fund ICE as the most well funded paramilitary in the world, having as target, people like me).
So if I lived in Maine, this would be a survival choice for me.
I so appreciate your comment, thank you.
I live in Maine and really appreciate your perspective. The struggle is real. My husband served in the Navy for 30+ years and Grahams behavior is disturbing. Hopefully that is behind him. It is sad when you have to vote for the lesser of two evils. Collins cannot remain in office!
I’m not in Maine but I’m disturbed by the choices Mainers have. I am the daughter of immigrant parents & ancestors & my soul is in pain for every immigrant being jailed & deported.
The cruelty of this regime has been perpetuated by Senator Collins. She definitely needs to be removed.
Is there no other choice but this man who, by all accounts, is yet another misogynist with a creepy tattoo that somehow just happened to show up on his chest?
(BTW elaborate tattoos don’t just magically appear one drunken night. They take multiple visits to a tattoo parlor. It takes intention.)
How desperate have we Dems become to believe we have to vote for this type of person?
Signed, Californian here who was once convinced Swalwell was a good guy.
I hope everyone has learned no devotion to any politician—we all just want government that works. Well said
What breaks my heart is we could have had a wonderful senator in Sara Gideon. No controversy or scandals, stood for everything Democrats champion. But here we are. We will support a lesser man and call him "flawed" but somehow couldn't support a superior woman. I'm just so sick of that happening over and over and over...
Thank you for this post. I am a Mainer and a lifelong Dem. I am seriously concerned about Platner and his dismissal of the intersection of race, gender, and economy. He frames everything in the binary of “have-and have-nots” and he seems to have very little awareness of the other forces and nuances that affect our daily lives. He has NO demonstrated leadership skills, nor a history that suggests to me that he can run a SENATE office. Yes, he is smart (ish) yes he “sort of” speaks to his past and some level of ownership. The fact that the argument always seems to go to “well, he’s better than Collins,” means little to me. It is the kind of dismissal that people have used to prop up mediocre white men for centuries. If this candidate were a woman or a POC, they would be OUT. We don’t forgive these groups the same way we forgive, laud, and support white men. Instead, we have more of the same old BS that we been suffering with for years. We are watching people prop up the flimsy tenets of patriarchy, just in a new form, and calling it our “best greatest hope.” Thank you for your analysis and for your statement about holding him accountable. This is a hard one. I KNOW that we need to flip the senate. I will be there watching, calling, writing, and advocating for Mainers every step of the way.
"What we are owed is a government that answers to the people it serves." Susan Collins has proven over & over that she does not put citizens first. Platner has not yet had the chance. Also... let's do a deep scandal finding mission on Collins and post it for all to see. How she can be bought, paid off, enriched herself & her husband who was married when they got together. Is Platner perfect - obviously not. But are Democrats going to turn on him like they did Biden & Harris & Walz ..... if enough stories are spread & more expose's are written I guess they .....might.
Good article!!!!
More on the Platner accusations
https://www.newsweek.com/who-is-lyndsey-fifield-platners-republican-ex-girlfriend-what-we-know-12038091