How Maine's Democratic meltdown could shape the Senate midterms
Political watchers expected this fall’s Maine Senate contest to emerge as the main event in the midterms as Democrats try to unseat five-term Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Again.
It is said that as Maine goes, so goes the nation. And this year, Maine could dictate how the Senate goes. But Democrats are facing trouble in the Pine Tree State.
Progressives thought they discovered a pearl of a candidate in waterman Graham Platner and his oyster enterprise.
But the party has now shucked Platner and is diving to find a replacement by July 27th.
For Democrats, defeating Collins is like the pursuit of the Great White Whale in Moby Dick. Potentially in their grasp. Yet elusive. Republicans aren’t concerned about the veteran GOPer.
"There's a reason that she's been a United States Senator for Maine since God was a baby," said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) on Fox. "People like her."
The Democratic Party was fractured before as its "mainstream middle" scraps with progressives.
However, the Platner debacle may have underscored what made the schism worse.
MILLIONS IN DEM AD MONEY VANISHED FROM PLATNER RACE DAYS BEFORE RAPE ALLEGATION DOOMED SENATE BID
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) will soon release their long-term platform. The DSA wants to eliminate the Senate. Expand the House. Pack the Supreme Court? How about having the House pick the Court instead?
The DSA pushes a 32-hour workweek without changes to pay or benefits.
And then there are older suggestions like Medicare for all and guaranteed minimum wages.
Some Democrats are asking how Platner got this far – unvetted. That’s to say nothing of some Democrats looking past his awful text messages and Nazi-themed tattoo.
All in the name of trying to defeat Collins.
"I told you so" is essentially the mantra of Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) He’s been outspoken against Platner since the start and railed against colleagues who blindly flocked to Platner.
"I’d say that the trash took itself out," said Fetterman on Fox. "Finally, people in Maine have a chance to really vote on someone that's not a total piece of trash."
But Fetterman held particular contempt for a Senate colleague: the godfather of modern socialism.
"(Sen.) Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) needs to apologize to the voters of Maine and to everyone that donated to that train wreck of a campaign. More than anyone, he pushed Platner into the election. And now he keeps pushing these communists and these kind of awful anti-American people," said Fetterman.
That’s what worries some Democrats after primary victories in New York by Democratic House nominees Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Brad Lander.
Then throw in Melat Kiros. She felled 30-year veteran Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) in the primary last week.
Kiros then triggered a Colorado avalanche of controversy after an appearance with Walter Rhein on YouTube.
"One of the things that brought me into starting my PhD program was finally coming to the realization that we were never really going to be able to tackle white supremacy in the way that we need to without reparations," said Kiros.
This is why Democrats are concerned about the party steering left.
Democrats might not need to worry about allegations of sexual assault, texts and tattoos like they did with Platner.
But they could grapple with policies pushed by other Democratic Socialists.
Abdul El-Sayed is seeking the Democratic nomination for Senate in Michigan against Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.). Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) is retiring.
Who knows what awaits Democrats in Maine, post-Platner.
But Democrats must retain Michigan if they have a fighting chance to seize control of the Senate.
"You can't retrain ICE. You have to abolish ICE," said El-Sayed at a recent debate with Stevens.
He equated radicalism in Iran to MAGA. And, he declared that people in Dearborn, MI were "sad" about the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Stevens, trying to run in the "middle" lane of the party, is focused on kitchen table issues.
"I will run through anyone and anything to lower costs," said Stevens during the debate.
Democrats are torn.
"I don't agree with everything either Haley or Abdul have said. They're both colleagues. They're both friends, and I'm neutral in this race. But we do have a big tent," said Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) on Fox.
But when pressed about progressives, Dingell replied, "I don't think that the DSA is painting us into the corners."
Political observers note that candidates like El-Sayed energize the party. But what does that mean in the general election?
"I think it is a great test case because I think El-Sayed is going to win that nomination. And I think with it, he brings a tremendous amount of enthusiasm, again from Democrats. The question is will he be able to appeal to independents? And that remains to be seen," said University of Akron political scientist David Cohen.
So here’s the Senate map for Democrats.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is retiring. Democrats hope to flip the Tar Heel State with former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) against former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley.
In the Buckeye State, former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is mounting a comeback after losing to Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) less than two years ago.
He’s up against appointed Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio), who succeeded Vice President JD Vance.
"There's a lot of money flowing into this state. Both Republicans and Democrats realize that Ohio is one of the keys to either Republicans holding the Senate or Democrats flipping it," said Cohen.
Iowa used to be a swing state. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is retiring after two terms. But the Hawkeye State is shaping up as a battleground as Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) faces Democrat Josh Turek.
The Democrats' last hope is to capture the Last Frontier: Alaska. Former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska.) is up against Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska.)
Democrats must also cling to Georgia as Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) faces Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.)
And just like Michigan and Georgia are for the Democrats, it’s "hold ‘em" in Texas after Republican Ken Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in the primary.
Paxton takes on Democrat James Talarcio.
Winning the Lone Star State may be a long shot for Democrats.
It seems that way each cycle. However, Democrats have made it relatively close for years now.
But Cohen says Democrats might win – despite losing.
"Even if Democrats come up short in Texas, Texas will have served a huge purpose in driving a lot of those resources to that state when they could have maybe spent more money in places like Ohio or Michigan or North Carolina or Georgia," said Cohen.
But Democrats must now devote time to figuring out what the progressive pull means for them. Especially after the Maine implosion. Republicans believe the Democrats are their own worst enemy.
"Our secret plan all along has been let them speak. Let Graham Platner speak. Let Dr. Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan speak," said John Kennedy. "A reckoning is coming for the Democratic Party."
It may have already come for Democrats in Maine.
And if this is the "secret plan" by Republicans, it’s not so secret. Democrats already understand their problem all too well.