# New Maine Senate race thread, moving on from Platner. (SO DON'T TALK ABOUT PLATNER) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 9, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527 "2026-07-09T00:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/101 "2026-07-20T20:28:48Z")
I was thinking more in terms of his ability to win, rather than how effective he would be as a senator. And yes, I think due to his name recognition he would have a better chance of beating Collins than whoever the Maine Democratic Party ends up selecting. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/102 "2026-07-20T20:35:57Z")
I suspect that by this point Jackson’s got plenty of name recognition for nearly anybody likely to be voting in Maine. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/103 "2026-07-20T20:37:03Z")
I predict that electing Stephen King as senator would have a terrible ending… ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/104 "2026-07-20T20:41:11Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’ll say it again: Senator is not an entry-level position. > [@Frodo](#): > > I predict that electing Stephen King as senator would have a terrible ending… That could very well be. But it would start off well 😀 . More seriously, it brings up the issue of “politician” really being two separate jobs, that of running for office and that of governing, and that someone who would be really good at one of those things might do a not so good job at the other. The question then becomes which of those two things is more important at this time for the US Senate. Given how closely divided we are, I give the edge to the ability to win elections rather than the ability to govern well. Mostly because at the end of the day, a placeholder type senator can simply vote straight party line and still do an effective job by merely doing nothing more difficult than that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/105 "2026-07-20T20:46:51Z")
They can. But would they? And which party? ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/106 "2026-07-20T21:52:49Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > That article reads to me like whoever wrote it wants, for whatever reason, to put Jackson down. They pick out, for instance, a case in which he spoke to “a few dozen” people in a parking lot. I’m sure he’s addressed larger crowds. That was my take on the article as well. I took it as another example of a Democrat who is more interested in purifying the Democratic Party than winning. I don’t get it. Even the most extreme wings of the party have a hell of a lot more in common with each other than with the Republicans. With such an incredibly compressed timeline, we were never going to get the perfect candidate. Jackson has a good track record (he has been the Democratic leader of the Senate for more than 10 years), and he has worked on good legislation. Given the structural disadvantages Collins will face in this cycle, I don’t think we need an Obama to win. As long as he doesn’t have any major scandals, I think he will win. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/107 "2026-07-20T23:08:31Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > It would never happen, but I like the idea of drafting Stephen King. He is a Democrat, but he is also 78. While i am in favor of the voters electing their choice, that is a thing that will be brought up over and over. > [@Chronos](#): > > I’ll say it again: Senator is not an entry-level position. Right. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/108 "2026-07-21T18:07:42Z")
> **Summary** > > Now that it’s all settled, I would like to give Maine Democrats and Dems in general a pat on the back. I think this difficult situation was actually handled very well. We dismissed the bullshit manufactured “scandals”, and then we quickly recognized an actual scandal and responded appropriately. Progressives didn’t try to handwave the serious allegations away. Centrists did not take Platner’s withdrawal as an opportunity to try to put in a candidate who doesn’t have the progressive stances the voters clearly wanted. Now the party is united behind a more qualified candidate. Good job, us. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/109 "2026-07-21T18:15:28Z")
> **Summary** > > Well, I don’t agree that Platner’s previous scandals were “manufactured”, but I’ll certainly agree that the process of replacing him has gone remarkably smoothly and agreeably. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/110 "2026-07-21T18:54:42Z")
> **Summary** > > > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > > > I would like to give Maine Democrats and Dems in general a pat on the back. I think this difficult situation was actually handled very well. We dismissed the bullshit manufactured “scandals”, and then we quickly recognized an actual scandal and responded appropriately. Progressives didn’t try to handwave the serious allegations away. Centrists did not take Platner’s withdrawal as an opportunity to try to put in a candidate who doesn’t have the progressive stances the voters clearly wanted > > I concur. Some were not “manufactured” like the Tattoo, but simply blown out of all proportion. But the claims by the GOP Operative were the very definition of “manufactured”. > > But once a serious allegation was made (altho rather late in the game IMHO) we took action, demanded he withdraw0 and he did. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/111 "2026-07-21T19:05:46Z")
> **Summary** > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > But the claims by the GOP Operative were the very definition of “manufactured”. > > You _do_ know that the lady who eventually came forward and was believed because she was a Democrat desperately did not want to out herself as a rape victim, but eventually felt compelled to precisely by comments like this one? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/112 "2026-07-21T19:15:49Z")
> **Summary** > > Which sucks for her, but there’s no way I’m believing anything anyone associated with the current Republican party has to say on literally any subject. Much the way you, for example, were not taking anything a guy with a Nazi tattoo says at face value. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/113 "2026-07-21T19:34:17Z")
Well said. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/114 "2026-07-21T19:35:14Z")
> **Summary** > > > [@Miller](#): > > > > Much the way you, for example, were not taking anything a guy with a Nazi tattoo says at face value. > > I _did not think we should make the guy with a Nazi tattoo a Senator_. And you know what? I don’t think that the lady who accused Platner of rape should be a Senator either. > > If Platner alleged that an establishment Democrat sexually assaulted him, I don’t think we should dismiss it out of hand. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/115 "2026-07-21T19:40:57Z")
> **Summary** > > I thought we were moving on? Oh well, interesting posts. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/116 "2026-07-21T19:42:56Z")
> **Summary** > > > [@Babale](#): > > > > If Platner alleged that an establishment Democrat sexually assaulted him, I don’t think we should dismiss it out of hand. > > I’d certainly hope that the _people responsible for investigating that stuff_ would do their jobs and not dismiss it out of hand. But as I’m not one of those people, if Platner came out tomorrow alleging that an establishment Dem sexually assaulted him, I wouldn’t believe him, either. At least not based on his own word. If the people’s whose job it is to investigate this stuff look, and find there is something there, I’ll change my assessment - just as I did when they investigated the second set of allegations against Platner and found them more credible. > > My understanding is that people _did_ look into the original accusations, and couldn’t substantiate anything. Possibly they half-assed the investigation, or lied about what they found, but as of right now, I don’t have a specific reason to think that happened. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/117 "2026-07-21T21:37:58Z")
Closed on July 21, 2026, 9:37pm UTC ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/118 "2026-07-21T21:39:50Z")
**Moderating** # No more on Platner in this thread. ~~In fact I think I’ll close it and a dedicated thread to the 2 actual candidates can be started.~~ Reopened at OP’s request. If you mention Platner, you’ll probably get a warning. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/119 "2026-07-22T02:00:05Z")
Opened on July 22, 2026, 2:00am UTC ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527/120 "2026-07-22T19:15:00Z")
Hopefully this is kosher as I am replying to stuff not about “he who should not be named” Laugh. If not, go ahead and summarize/delete it. > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Now that it’s all settled, I would like to give Maine Democrats and Dems in general a pat on the back. I think this difficult situation was actually handled very well. **Agreed. This had the potential to be a disaster.** I think the Democratic Party of Maine deserves a huge amount of credit for coming up with a credible, mostly fair system on incredibly short notice. They had to improvise under pressure, and they still managed to stick the landing on a very difficult situation. > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Centrists did not take Platner’s withdrawal as an opportunity to try to put in a candidate who doesn’t have the progressive stances the voters clearly wanted. Now the party is united behind a more qualified candidate. Good job, us. I agree with you most of the time, so I’m hoping that line was written quickly. To me, the process worked **precisely** because neither the progressive side nor the centrist side tried to hand‑pick a winner. Maine gave every candidate a legitimate shot. If a centrist had won instead of Jackson, I’d hope people would accept the result even if it wasn’t their perfect choice. The strength of this process was that it didn’t try to engineer an ideological outcome — it let the delegates decide. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-maine-senate-race-thread-moving-on-from-platner-so-dont-talk-about-platner/1031527.md?page=7)