Multiple polls showed Platner 20-30 points ahead, she was basically spinning her wheels if she kept running.

Link to tweet

She vetoed the proposed data center moratorium passed by the legislature, giving the go-ahead for construction on the site of the former North Jay paper mill. She got many very negative comments in the Portland Press Herald over that action.

I am female and was in the military and DOD for several years. I am not excusing Graham, but what he said was mild.

His talk with John Stewart is worth watching, especially the last 10 minutes, when John asks his young female associates to weigh in.

the real deal. You know what I like the most? He is well informed!

For me... it was the "I had no idea for 17 years that it was a Nazi symbol, and nobody bothered to tell me or point it out, it was just a cool skull and crossbones that looked edgy" that was a dealbreaker. But... I hope he wins and I hope he doesn't disappoint. Mentally, I'm preparing for the worst. I can't stand any more disappointments.

is worrisome in my book. I like what he has to say on policies, but am concerned about his past.

Mills would be a solid Dem vote in most cases even if she is, IMO, a "right of center" Dem.

I guess we'll see.

Look what happened with Fetterman

populism has a role to play in shaking things up and shaping our future, just as the Tea Party and MAGA have done.

I do hope Platner is genuine in what he says, but he could also be just smart enough to take advantage of a growing populist wave for selfish ends. We shall see I guess.

On the side of optimism, I view FDR as a populist of sorts. If my memory is right, he was able to accomplish all that he did in part because he tapped into populism. He made use of the power of the people at a time when economic inequities were at their worst by consistently pointing out and hammering on those inequities. He wasn't extreme. He wasn't a socialist, he wasn't a communist, but was able to tap into peoples' disdain for the uber-wealthy and get things done that were actually great for this country and the working class.

Ohio is an example sad to say

... does he have a chance against Collins?

The eleventy million dollar question. All the other novices haven't been able to unseat her yet.

People invest too much in the polls and that could be our downfall.

I just relocated but if shit goes badly in November, I'll be looking for another country. I don't want to spend my final years in a country that can't fucking see its way to right the ship. My hard won rights are being stripped away and I'm not going to hang around while the rest are taken by a gang of pedophiles.

I wish he was agreeable to going back to England. He’s a British Citizen, here in the states, on a permanent resident green card. The problem is that it is frightfully expensive in the UK. And we do live very close to the vest. Just modest social security and very modest pension/401K.

But, if he gave the OK, I would jump in a heart beat.

Anyway, you aren’t alone, there are millions of people also wishing we could get the heck out of this insanity. I’m perpetually anxious, sad—> depressed if I’m honest. Super hyper vigilant, eating wrong, not living the calm life I dreamed of once I retired.

Don’t forget to breathe….

I just turned 70, and hubby just turned 74. He's heading quickly into dementia land, but even HE can retain what trump has done to us, and is especially p'o'd about the traitorous actions towards us women and POC. During t's first reign, I told him then we ought to be looking for another country to move to. But, like you, we live too close to the vest, and the move would probably kill us physically at this point. But damn... I dearly wish I could move.

Maybe we ought to take a hint from the hard core religious magas, and all of us gather together in one friendly state... and make a city of our own, with no maga allowed.

And on a related note, she's 78 years old! Why do so many politicians Democratic and Republican refuse to retire? Don't they have any hobbies or other interests in life besides politics?

Guess the power and prestige of that position is enticing, especially if you’ve convinced yourself you’re the only one who can do it properly.

Is Bernie? And several others whom Democrats love?

Ageism should be a crime. I'll take age and experience over a novice with too many red flags.

BUT:

Look at how we have gotten screwed over when our wise elders have died in office leaving us on the short end of the stick.

Trump got to replace Ginsberg because she wouldn’t step down under Obama. That has cost us dearly.

I’m 72, and getting forgetful. But, I know There are other examples as well.

The problem is that when an elderly person dies in office, it’s often a crap shoot on how they are replaced. Is it quickly? Does it lose us a critical vote in Congress? Do we lose out on a SCOTUS pick? Are they replaced with someone of the same party; is there a special election called? It’s disruptive, costly and can be avoided if we consider that at a certain point, it’s better to replace them thru new people running and the older ones retiring with dignity. No one says the elder has to live in a nursing home with no connection to politics. I say keep them on as consultants so we can get their wisdom.

It isn’t black-n-white. But, how many times must we get burned before we realize that it’s better to replace under controlled circumstances, than it is to deal with the upheaval that deaths in office causes.

I don't know about Platner. I do not trust him at all.

Local, state, federal?

yup

I do have some reservations about Platner.

But, I think we must inject new life in the Democratic party and we need to nominate the candidate that has the best chance to win. That's Platner. I will send him a donation.

... who has the best chance to win the seat? Can this guy beat Collins?

WTF? Democracy is an illusion.

Sanders had the appeal he did in 2016. The same can probably be said about Trump.

Populism takes hold when democracy is broken. Maybe that is what is going on?

It aint necessarily so.

I'm impressed. He's a Marine. He sails a fishing boat. He's forty-one!

Get behind him, vote for Collins, or sit this one out. Your call.

My call, my vote. The primary starts in 10 days and I will vote as I see fit, thank you very much.

Do not post disrespectful nicknames, insults, or highly inflammatory attacks against any Democratic public figures. Do not post anything that could be construed as bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for any Democratic general election candidate, and do not compare any Democratic general election candidate unfavorably to their general election opponent(s).

Fetterman/Sinema, mark my words.

Far better than the current situation, if it helps get to 51.

We need bodies in the D collumn to get the majority in the Senate and rule the committees and control the agenda. Now is a time for strategic voting with less emphasis on issues. I have become a Fetterman detractor. But until he changes his party affiliation I'm willing to put up with him as long as we keep that precious D in our column.

Like all the other novices, he'll lose to concerned susan.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said in a statement that he would support Platner’s bid to unseat Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. Schumer had initially recruited Mills to run:

“After years of allowing Trump’s abuses of power, Senator Collins has never been more vulnerable and we will work with the presumptive Democratic nominee Graham Platner to defeat her,” Schumer said in a joint statement with fellow New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who runs Senate Democrats’ campaign arm.

https://www.jta.org/2026/04/30/united-states/graham-platner-whose-maine-senate-run-has-concerned-jews-becomes-presumptive-dem-nominee-after-janet-mills-suspends-campaign

But the overall importance is for the Dems to rally around one candidate and WIN!!

Now if Porter could only do the same in California!!

Maine really does not want another older white woman as Senator. Nor do they want data centers or Trump prison camps.

Is an offensive statement and a weak generalization. Maine is not a of one mind about anything, for a start.

Tone-deaf.

The project in Jay should have been allowed as one exception to the moratorium, IMO. Mills took the political heat for a tough call.

She mentioned the people working the project. Hard workers putting food on their tables. You're right. I hope Platner is the real deal and boy do we have a battle coming up in 6 months.

Well, since you put it that way ...

Platner leads Collins in every poll I can find. In almost all of them, he is leading by more than the MoE.

[link:Real Clear Politics|https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2026/maine/collins-vs-platner]

[link:270 to win|https://www.270towin.com/2026-senate-polls/maine]

Rally up!