they want to reach, but simply cannot. (I hate to say this, and I know some here will be offended, but) these Republican voters - many of them angry working class men who feel ignored by and don't trust Democrats - really liked and identified with Platner's many "personal failings," specifically things like his nazi-adjacent tattoo, his rough language and appearance, his heavy drinking, and Platner's "nonconsensual behavior" with women. To these voters that meant Platner was one of them.

White male nazi party. If that is the party you want stay with the republican party.

You’re appealing to people who don’t care about anything other than themselves, like maga. Why should I as a woman who is also a minority vote for this person?
We have a toxic male problem, men who think anything we do for others is a waste of resources. Fixing male economic issues, will not fix what ails this country. Believing in untested candidates will only further erode our democracy.

I'm not saying Democrats have to field Platner-like candidates in the future. Still, I can't count the number of threads here discussing what "Democrats must do to appeal to the Republican-leaning, working class, white male voters if we want to win."

Personally, I believe these people should vote rationally, because Democratic economic policies are better for them, but often they are hoodwinked by so-called "social issues," and Republicans telling them Democrats "look down on them" because of "who they are and what they believe." Many here will say, "fuck 'em, we don't need them If they can't see how wrong they are," others want to "reach out" to these voters, "not insult them," and try to "understand" and "appeal to them."

It's interesting to note Maine transitioned from being a Closed Primary state to a Semi-Open Primary state in 2024. "Prior to 2024, only voters enrolled in a party could vote in that party’s primary. Unenrolled voters could not participate in a party primary unless the voter enrolled in the party."

https://www.readfieldmaine.gov/votingelectionstown-mtg/pages/maine%E2%80%99s-new-semi-open-primary-beginning-2024

Under this new primary system, 75% of "unenrolled voters" in Maine voted in the Democratic primary in 2026. That's a huge number. It's a harsh reality, but I suspect the majority of these "unenrolled voters" who chose to vote in the Democratic primary for the first time were MAGA-type, conservative-leaning, white males, drawn to the Democratic primary in 2026 precisely because they identified with Platner's populist political message, and for all the "personal baggage" most Democrats found disqualifying.

Planter was there to get rich and make his buddies rich. He had no core beliefs. If you want to invite maga to the party knock yourself out, they have set this country back decades. We don’t need racist, sexist, rape acceptance, killing people in the streets, Maha and hating people who are Jewish or Muslim. I hope we stand for something because inviting these people into the fold means we don’t care about our country because we know they don’t care about anything but hate.

We need committed democrats who believe in something better. If you want a bro party go for it. This will not work out well. You’re talking about a far right shift, sorry maybe my vote and my voice don’t matter but I will not vote for anyone who approves of Trump and his minions. They have not seen the light they just don’t like the consequences of their actions.

There's a ton of comments from unenrolled voters enraged that they can't be part of this new delegate process. They're struggling to understand that the Democrats are a party, and that there is no time or money for a do-over primary. This sucks because I suspect we will lose votes over the way the process has had to be set up. But kudos to the state party for working with the constraints and trying to be as open and fair as they can during this process.

I applied for delegate status. Told them I'm a former Green who joined the Dems just so I could caucus for Bernie. Saturday is the delegate election, so we'll see if my bio hurts or helps.

And how we should partner with them to elect a candidate. What have these people done to make America a better country. We have got to do our homework and vet our candidates or things will not get better.

enough common ground with Maga, or avoid having to allow for some of their preferences if they violate what we believe in. Difficult, but not impossible. There was that weird overlap where some of them found both Trump and Bernie Sanders to be ok.

Values . If you vote for trump and his hate, it’s all about you and to hell with everyone else. Many of them voted for him twice. If you care about this country you don’t vote for a lying, grifting, racist monster. No more excuses we are looking at a prolonged recession because folks voted their hate .

by as much as 13 points. I think that's absolute bullshit. All these "polls," springing up right after Platner was forced to drop out by the national Democratic party establishment, that claim he was trailing Collins before he left the race, are self-serving nonsense, put out by those who want to justify having forcing out a candidate who received more than 70% of the primary vote.

Maine Democrats liked Platner a lot at first, then they reluctantly liked him and finally they were done and wanted him gone.

The appetite in Maine is to replace Collins

It's time to let Platner go. He was a terrible candidate who never should have been running in the first place.

It's not a "claim" as if people made it up. It's complicated by the fact that it was within the margin of error and Platner had led in a majority of polls taken (most were within the margin of error). Realistically for whatever enthusiasm he engendered (and he did), it wasn't as if he was running away with the race. You might want to consider if you aren't also spreading self serving opinions as facts.

But even if he was ahead, he shouldn't be our nominee given his habit of abusing women (or the nazi tattoo and a deeply unhealthy obsession with AIPAC, and being ableist, and being homophobic, and an inability to actually take enough personal responsibility to actually change).

Politics is driven by small groups of people trying to persuade the public. Most people do not follow politics, and are not well informed. Then we have the fact that people are steeped in racism and misogyny and can be swayed by racist and sexist appeals.

You are not asking us to reach out to "MAGA-type, conservative-leaning, white males" you are asking us to pander to their worst in them and surrender to the political faction that is herding them around.

That's not what I wrote, but it's what you want to believe.

Yes, I could be wrong.

What does that have to do with anything in your post. We are all admitting that he was a flawed candidate on the personal level.

He was discussing appealing to maga and I disagreed with that. The gentleman was a bigot and we don’t need those in our party nor do we need people who support bigots.

The economy is always the overarching issue in elections. There are a lot of people who are struggling because as Platner stated, the economy is rigged against them. That is a moral issue.

A con and if you let the wrong people into the tent they can do a lot of harm. Two democratic senators harmed positive outcomes. Sweet words coming from the mouth of paid actors do us no good.

My hunch is that most of the people who voted for Platner in the primary were attracted to him because he was promising radical changes.

I suspect that most of his primary voters didn't know much about the negatives. Platner was an unknown and people applied their own personal hopes and dreams on him.

His popularity dropped like a stone when the sexual assault allegations came out.

I'd like to believe that most voters aren't actually attracted to Nazi imagery and sexual assault, but then again Trump was reelected... In any case I don't think that approach would work with Democratic candidates. Most Dem voters won't support that stuff.

"An analysis of early absentee data also suggests the combat veteran and oyster farmer may have benefited from the state’s second use of semi-open primaries, which allows unenrolled voters to participate in the parties’ nomination contests."

"More than 18,000 unenrolled voters cast absentee ballots as of Tuesday afternoon, of whom 75% voted in the Democratic primary."

"So far, Platner has won every town in Maine except three, Hersey, Moose River and Weston, which went to Gov. Janet Mills."

https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/06/11/politics/elections/maine-senate-primary-graham-platner-votes-democratic-history/

No one knows what these "unenrolled" Maine voters believe, whether they are left- or right-leaning in their views. I suspect the majority are more in line with the right than the left, but decided to vote in the 2026 Democratic primary because Platner spoke their language, and (for good or bad) shared a lot of their values.

I think people were willing to overlook qualities in Platner they wouldn't in a more traditional candidate because he offered them a platform they badly wanted.

Image was important, for sure, but I don't think it was the tattoo or the reddit trolling that inspired people. Democrats are looking for a fucking fighter -- not another technocratic nerd regurgitating rehearsed poll-tested talking points like politics is fucking debate club -- and he presented as such.

A progressive candidate without nazi tattoos, alcoholism, and a history of abuse probably would have done similarly well against Janet Mills.

Now that it's been proven to be a winning formula, all these "acceptable progressive candidates" running in the Maine Democratic Party replacement primary want to portray themselves as the Second Coming of Graham Platner. When Platner started his campaign for the Senate nomination most conventional wisdom said he was "too extreme" for Maine Democrats. They were wrong, and now they all want to jump on the populist Platner bandwagon.

A lot of more pragmatic Democrats were willing to overlook a lot of Platner's personal problems because they really liked his message, and weren't hearing it from other establishment Democrats. I suspect right-leaning unenrolled primary voters were willing to listen, then vote for Platner, because his personal history resonated with them, warts and all.

Anecdotally, my dumbass MAGA neighbor (in Florida) "hates Democrats" (for all the usual reasons), but grudgingly admits "his" Republican party only cares about the wealthy and they're screwing average Americans like him. Right after Platner dropped out the guy told me, "I'd vote for a Democrat like that."

I suggest you direct it to Maine Democrats. You can reach them here: https://mainedems.org/leadership/

We must investigate and make sure our candidates are competent and committed to democratic values, that means being inclusive and believing in making life better for all of us not ignoring appalling behavior. If people would engage their brains we wouldn’t have trump. Why is it that when people show you who they are you say but he she or it speaks for me and I don’t care what evil they do.

People don’t seem to learn.

Yes, the message can work in some places, but not in a lot of other places.

It will be interesting to see how the DSA does in the general elections. Personally, I don’t think it’s going to work out well for the D’s.

Leadership takes more than charisma.

Mostly, I hope the new nominee makes plain why she or he is BETTER for Maine than Susie C.

Indeed, it will take some skill to retain the MAGA types that found Platner to their liking. I hope someone with that skill can be found, and can be Maine's nominee. A healthy dose of sincerity wouldn't hurt, either. Every time I saw a clip of Platner speaking, he came across to me as regurgitating pre-arranged lines. I prefer someone whose speeches do not come across as pre-wrapped fast food. There are always Republicans for that.

There must be a good reason they tend to stay out of politics. I can think of plenty of bad reasons.

Mind Control and Accountability: Uncovering the Truth of the CIA’s MKULTRA Project

https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/mind-control-and-accountability-uncovering-the-truth-of-the-cias-mkultra-project/

They are practically doomed to frustration before they even take office--assuming they manage to get there in the first place.

I can only imagine Obama's frustration at failing to be able to implement all his benevolent plans because powerful forces opposing him were more interested in their own financial well-being than the general well-being of the populace. The well-meaning inevitably have a hard time imagining why in the world anyone would oppose measures designed to help the country. In underestimating the selfish evil opposed to them, they are left wondering why in the world anyone would take such a stance. The Republicans, on the other hand, are wondering why in the world anyone would assume they had benevolent intentions in the first place, and can't figure out how it is that no Democrat saw them coming.

aipac, aipac, aipac, and oh yeah, the tat. but what cd possibly b his appeal? we may never know.
🙄🙄🙄

That particular issue is being used very skillfully by people who want to destroy democracy.

sooooo many ppl getting on that bus like they dont know where it goes.

or watched the damn history channel.

His political message was that the economy was rigged against the average American. Don't we all agree with that?