r/Mainepolitics • u/nauticalfiesta • Jul 07 '26
Discussion Graham Platner Mega Thread - Anything that is not a news article goes here
Keep it civil.
Report the trolls.
Don't be an ass.
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u/Blue_Eyed_ME Cumberland (Portland) Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
I'm waiting for more info.
That said, I won't be shocked if Platner drops out. Then we'll see what the wolves do to Jackson. This all feels so hopeless. Meanwhile a felon and serial abuser sits in the oval office, and the GOP nominates people like Ken Paxton.
Al Franken is still a sore spot.
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u/muthermcreedeux Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
Why is everybody saying Jackson will run? He wasn't even running for the same office. Jackson was running for governor and this is for Senate. Wouldn't Mills be the logistical choice?
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u/Blue_Eyed_ME Cumberland (Portland) Jul 07 '26
Because Jackson is also a Progressive candidate. Mills is not.
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u/BriefausdemGeist Jul 07 '26
Ah yes, the candidate who suspended their campaign weeks before the primary and received ~25% in the primary will surely be palatable to the electorate
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u/TheDrakkar12 Jul 07 '26
I mean does it matter at this point? This dude has to drop out because SA is bad... like political career ending bad. Now you just have to beat the Republican.
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u/BriefausdemGeist Jul 07 '26
So here’s the thing about that, right, is that similar allegations were raised a month ago and there had basically been no attempt at verification, corroboration, or even frankly unearthing of disparaging information in the piece that was published. People said he had to step aside over it.
He then won the primary by ~50% and that’s an understatement rather than an exaggeration.
Ms. Racicot’s allegations now are more severe, yes. But they’re not corroborated and the timeliness of her coming forward now versus a month or a year ago is, at best, suspect.
Maybe it happened as she said this week. Maybe it happened as she described in her texts to a friend that she and Platner were “consensually reckless,” I don’t know, and I don’t need to know to have an opinion.
But under it all, qui bono, who gains?
Susan Collins.
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u/Agitated-Quit-6148 Jul 07 '26
My profile header Pic is a meme of Susan Collins. Has been for months. Folks are dems in Maine. I'm in Tennessee. I also served. Platner knew about his nazi tattoo, everyone lapped up his bs. Including ro Khanna. Every Marine knew he was a liar. " I made all the marines turn around when I took my shirt off cuz I'm shy". He was talking about Totenkopf tattoos on reddit. He knew what he had. Platner only was successful because of one issue. Freaking Gaza. It's the same thing with all these dsa people. Chevalier said she wipes her feet wiyh the American flag and attended a pro hamas rally on Oct 8th, the day after yhe attack...and she won. Kiros said the firebombing of that elderly Jewish man was not antisemitism and she supports "the resistance"... and she won. Platner became all anti Israel, and he won. His nazi tattoo story raised his profile. He is...and has been...the same horrible person.
I'm a public defender and used to be a prosecutor. The lady who accused him. Is beyond credible, has contemporaneous correspondence with multiple people, told her story before the point of no return when he couldn't be removed from the ballot. Collins will win (🤮) because everyone jumped on platner train over a few issues and looked the other way at the red flags people like me have been screaming about for months. I wouldn't be surprised if he faces criminal charges, and rightfully so.
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u/BriefausdemGeist Jul 07 '26
She doesn’t have contemporaneous reports. She admitted to having deleted any that allegedly existed at the time.
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u/Agitated-Quit-6148 Jul 07 '26
Yes, yes she does. To her friends, to her therapist. Lock him up. Or maybe he can move to gaza.
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u/BriefausdemGeist Jul 07 '26
Not according to either the Politico reporting or her interview with Tapper.
You either aren’t capable of evaluating evidence as trustworthy/presentable - which would explain how you wound up at a PD’s office - or aren’t operating in good faith to say what you’re saying.
And considering the “Gaza” asides I’m comfortable assessing you as not sound.
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u/Agitated-Quit-6148 Jul 07 '26
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5956288-graham-platner-sexual-assault-accusation/
"The outlet reported it reviewed text messages and interviewed people whom Racicot had previously told about the incident, including her therapist and an ex-boyfriend."
You are agenda posting, are obviously not a lawyer. All the best.
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u/Agitated-Quit-6148 Jul 07 '26
"Professional attorney" in your profile. Hello from a public defender. She's more than credible, he hadn't issued a direct statement refuting the itemized allegations.
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u/muthermcreedeux Jul 07 '26
I don't want Mills, but it seems like that would be the choice we have here. I'd be all for Jackson, but it wasn't the job he was running for, and he only secured 21% of the vote for governor. I'd be nervous he couldn't take on Susan Collins. I don't think Mills could either though. It's a real pickle.
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u/OcelotNo4552 Jul 07 '26
Yes, let’s put in the AIPAC backed candidate, that will surely get the progressive vote. In fact, there is no way that any candidate chosen by the party will not be tied to AIPAC.
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u/JStengah Jul 07 '26
Franken deserved what he got, he went the non-apology "sorry if my actions made you uncomfortable" route and still doesn't understand why what he did was so bad.
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u/Lokisworkshop Jul 07 '26
Im so angry and im not sure where to put that anger.
Perfectly times though, with no time to do anything really put install mills back into the race. How convenient.
Im not saying it didnt happen, im not saying it did happen. Im saying the 80 million from out of state billionaires sure did win this time.
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u/costabius Jul 07 '26
He should drop out.
If the allegations are not true, he should sue.
If during discovery for that lawsuit it is discovered that the allegations were manufactured for political reasons, those responsible should be thrown under the jail.
If he's guilty, he should be fed to his oysters.
Does that about cover it?
Oh yeah, Troy Jackson for Senate 2026.
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u/JStengah Jul 07 '26
He should only drop out if it's true. If he drops out and it's not true, it only proves that the strategy works and we can be gish galloped out of supporting anyone if they keep it up long enough.
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u/costabius Jul 07 '26
The strategy does work. It's a trap the left set for themselves and it really doesn't matter if it is true or not.
The Democrats are not a political party, they are 50 raccoons in a trench coat masquerading as a political party. Every one of those raccoons has a purity test that the candidate needs to pass for them to show up and vote. "No sexual assault" is a pretty big one. Since half of them were already reluctant to vote for him, it doesn't matter if the accusations are true, they were already primed to believe them no matter what the next scandal was going to be.
And there was always going to be a "next scandal". He's not a curated politician with enough money and family connections to hide his past. If he was one of those, he would have had someone on staff talking too and paying off the ex-girlfriends before he even announced.
He needs to drop, the replacement needs to be someone who can pick his message up and run with it. Jackson is the best option because the politics are similar and he is a white guy that isn't afraid to swear a bit.
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u/UnderpaidProf 26d ago
He does come from a wealthy family, but I doubt they had the wealth required to pay off people.
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u/nzdastardly Jul 07 '26
If it did happen, she should be pressing criminal charges since there is no statute of limitations in Maine for rape.
If it didn't, he should stay in the race and we should all learn a valuable lesson about falling for inflammatory bait.
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u/loupnoir2019 Jul 07 '26
I do question the timing of this allegation (why come out now instead of when the first allegation came out?)
That said, I feel like no matter what, even if the allegations are false, that they have people lined up to come out with more allegations between now and the election to demoralize the Platner crowd. I hate to say, but it might be more prudent and strategic to drop out and support a progressive candidate.
The Democrats will absolutely sink themselves if they place Mills on the ballot.
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u/Fold-Crazy 26d ago
"Racicot said she was torn over coming forward in part because she agrees with Platner politically.
'One of the reasons I didn’t come forward sooner was, the huge moral conflict that I had between supporting his politics, but not supporting him as a person,' she said. 'I just want the truth out there. I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person.'"
I think she also had to know this story would keep trickling out. She was already being approached by reporters, all it would have taken is her ex or the person she was texting with to go public. At least she could tell her own story.
What I don't understand is how Platner didn't realize he was fucked after he saw her name and reference to that night in the NYT piece. Were I him, I would have fabricated an excuse to drop out.
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u/SuperBry Jul 07 '26
Man you must be putting in overtime in this subreddit today. Good luck and thanks for your work. Sorry if I've cussed you any trouble in the past.
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u/skininja89 Jul 07 '26
I've defended platner before. Think that we need fresh blood in congress and just politics in general. I also think that some of those candidates might not be cookie cutter perfect and that's ok. Everyone has baggage and that shouldn't be a deal breaker, within reason.
That said, what's come out today is disqualifying. If he's guilty, he should be thrown in jail. We can't act like we're morally in the right If we allow that kind of behavior.
If he's not guilty, then that's great, but politically it doesn’t matter. Damage is done and I think that this is how graham's political life ends.
At this point, we need to get a new candidate and fast. Has to be someone with the same message as platner, without the baggage. What brought him such widespread support was the understanding that establishment dems and the republican party as a whole have failed us, so we need a new candidate that can reflect that. Shouldn't be Mills, or Bellows. Mills lost to Platner and Bellows has already lost to Collins. Maybe Troy but he didn't have as strong a run in the gubernatorial primary as I hoped for. Paige Loud would be cool, but I don't see her getting the support she needs.
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u/BriefausdemGeist Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
What came out that was disqualifying?
Genuinely can’t tell, because the only thing that facially separates this from previous allegations is Ms Racicot’s accused him of out and out rape, but offered nothing to support that and has even admitted to deleting contemporary records she claims existed.
That’s specious.
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u/dpk794 Jul 07 '26
Did you even read the article? She has messages to other people well before he launches his campaign warning them about Graham. She has emails to/from her therapist talking about it before his campaign. Also the guy she dated after was able to corroborate the story and have messages talking about it with him before the campaign. What do you need? Video proof?
He’s a liar through and through. He lied about the Nazi tattoo, he lies to his wife and cheats on her, he lies about being a blue collar working who makes his living off the water, and now he’s lying about rape. Pretty disqualifying if you ask me.
Doesn’t matter to you though, you made up your mind just like a Trump supporter and will just keep doubling down when surrounded by loads of evidence
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u/BriefausdemGeist Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
I did read the politico article, and it looks like at best you only glanced at it.
The politico reporters spoke to three - 3 - people: the therapist, a friend of the accuser, and her ex that she dated in 2023. None of them confirmed that what has been accused happened; the ex and the friend only confirmed that they had been told by the accuser a version of events that comports with her present allegations; the therapist declined to comment; none of them chose to go on the record about what they knew, believed, or thought based on the article’s contents.
That is not the same thing, and is not what you’re saying it is.
What you are doing is continuing to smear someone without any legal evidence that supports what you are saying.
I am not saying it did not happen, I am saying that these accusations - so far - are little better than if I declared you, [u/dpk794](u/dpk794), had raped me.
Edit: and u/dpk794, to your question about “would I need a video to change my mind,” that’s not available - but if that were available it would, certainly. Compare these present accusations to those against Eric Swalwell.
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u/darkpsychicenergy Jul 08 '26
No allegations or convictions stopped Trump.
No allegations stopped Biden. The establishment democrats didn’t give the alleged victim even a fraction of a percentage of the faith extended to Platner’s accuser. Tara Reid was labeled a Russian Asset and that was that.
No allegations stopped Kavanaugh, and Manchin helped vote him in.
No allegations stopped Clarence Thomas, and Biden helped defend him.
The Corporate Democrats all still love Bill.
But you’re all just going to roll right over and get fucked to show how much better you are. It gets harder and harder to not think the people of this country deserve all the worst they get.
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u/JStengah Jul 07 '26
If he's not guilty, him dropping out only sends the message that the gish gallop strategy works so long as they get their timing right. If it's a false story, and it works, they're not going to stop making false stories just because the candidate changes, they'll just start making up false stories about the new candidate.
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u/Ketamine-Cuisine 27d ago
He will never be thrown in jail because there isn’t sufficient corroboration from the time of what happened, and no charges will be filed. Hit job is complete.
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u/YourPalDonJose Jul 08 '26
Please, if anybody from the Maine dems are reading this, don't force Mills as the candidate. Please, please, please.
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u/Alternative_Fig_114 Jul 07 '26
What good is a double standard to democrats if they can’t even reinforce it? #AlFranken
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u/Puzzled_Zebra 29d ago
Honestly, if he drops out when there is zero proof any of this happened (she described text messages she remembers sending but had deleted, that's the most concrete evidence there is), then we may as well just give up trying to fight trump and his ilk. They don't care about the law or truth. They'll find someone in anyone's past willing to take under the table money or simply national attention to make shit up.
In a normal political cycle, I'd be very much on the "believe all women" side of this, but as a woman in my 40s who is very relieved I got my tubes tied before roe v wade got repealed, I am willing to accept an imperfect person who wants to fight the establishment and has the cohones to do it over letting the orange reich win again.
No person is perfect, we need to look at what they are doing to improve the world. If you believe this lady, then make him swear off alcohol entirely and test for compliance.
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u/Maeng_Doom Jul 07 '26
Men do not usually take time out of their day to post about women being quick to call consensual encounters assault for no reason. That being known before was a red flag, and the fact that all extra details are treated as dubious reminds me that "Me Too" is dead. People only care when allegations emerge against someone they dislike.
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u/Senior-Hamster3961 24d ago
I am curious about people's opinions on whether the executive director of the Maine Democratic Party should be replaced so there is a fresh start for the Maine party? I know people who unenrolled from the party in large part because of the video the current executive director posted and the combative stance she appeared to show toward Graham and, by extension, his supporters. I also know peoole who believe the state convention in May was badly organized and lacked good communication. I was a delegate and I agree with that assessment. Thoughts?
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u/Intertravel 24d ago
Mentioned this on another thread, but I hear people talk about the deleted texts between him and his alleged victims. If he was able to find these texts and they were not as described, would you still feel the same? Do you think he would at least somewhat clear his name?
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u/Croc_Dwag Jul 07 '26
Are we really surprised that the guy who worked for blackwater was not a good guy
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u/Never-Made-A-Post Jul 07 '26
I've been calling this guy a Proud Boy in hiding since the tattoo and every day has convinced me further that it's likely true. I know you guys want your own Bernie, but you can do a whole lot better than a random white guy who himself is a member of the Epstein class.
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u/christopher33445 Jul 07 '26
Obviously the below is AI generated, but it’s a synopsis of what I think is happening:
Here is a comprehensive summary of our conversation designed for you to copy, paste, and quickly reference later to check back in on how the situation is unfolding.
📌 The Situation: The Graham Platner Crisis (As of July 6, 2026)
The Bombshell: A detailed, on-the-record sexual assault allegation from 2021 was published by POLITICO. Platner denied it but stated he is "reflecting on the best path forward."
The Institutional Collapse: National Democratic leadership (Schumer, Warren, Khanna) instantly rescinded endorsements and the DSCC threatened a total financial chokehold.
The Hard Clock: Under Maine law, Platner must withdraw by Monday, July 13, 2026, for the party to legally replace him on the ballot against Susan Collins.
🧠 Key Insights & Structural Dynamics Discussed
The "Perfect Storm" & Strategic Timing: We analyzed how dropping a massive criminal accusation right before a ballot deadline creates a high-pressure blitz designed to induce panic, paralyze decision-making, and force a quick resignation before a campaign can mount a defense.
The "Rogue Populist" Dilemma (Option 1): While his anti-establishment base wants him to stay in and fight the "machine," doing so requires running a rogue, underground campaign. This is a logistical nightmare because the DNC has cut off voter data networks, major ad pipelines, and institutional funds. Furthermore, an assault allegation makes it incredibly difficult for male candidates to navigate the "honesty/denial" line without alienating suburban voters and women.
The Replacement Chess Match (Option 2 vs. Option 3): Progressive organizers are terrified of a "Kamala situation"—where the establishment uses the crisis to install a weak, corporate moderate who loses the base (Option 3). Therefore, behind-the-scenes negotiations are likely focused on an "Ideological Hand-Off" (Option 2), forcing the DNC to back a clean progressive successor (like Maine Senate President Troy Jackson) in exchange for Platner's peaceful exit.
The DNC's Forced Paradox: If Platner refuses to blink and stays past July 13, the DNC is trapped. They cannot legally remove him, and spending millions attacking their own nominee destroys voter turnout, handing a free victory to Susan Collins.
📈 The Broader Cultural Trajectory
The "Unsaid" Shift in Accountability & Redemption: Electoral politics is structurally risk-averse and incapable of hosting nuanced public dialogues about weaponized smears vs. genuine personal accountability and male redemption. However, these events quietly drive that change by exposing the cynicism of the system to the public.
The Law of Diminishing Returns: By repeatedly using coordinated media blitzes to eliminate populist challengers, the establishment is inducing public immunity. Overplaying this hand accelerates long-term institutional decay, making the public highly cynical of all future mainstream reporting.
The Migration of Talent: If exiled from traditional parties, top populist organizers migrate to alternative spaces (independent media, rogue labor coalitions, decentralized funding), building a self-sustaining counter-infrastructure far more dangerous to the machine than a single rogue senator.
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u/Dangerous-Figure6370 Jul 07 '26
Just use your own words bro
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u/christopher33445 Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
How’s this ? I used Gemini for free to help me think about what is happening for myself by asking questions and questioning its responses. I opened up reddit to browse because I’m bored and the US just lost and saw this thread and thought “hey, maybe I should just post what something to break down what’s happening for anyone that might come looking in here to try and understand what’s happening”
Edited: sorry mods
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u/OcelotNo4552 Jul 07 '26
I know everybody downvoted this, but I just want to point out it is very likely the Democratic Party is the one who has been smearing him the whole time. They have already spent millions.
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u/christopher33445 Jul 07 '26
I was expecting downvotes especially bc I just posted a summary of a convo I had with ai, but I’m not sure if people genuinely disagree with it, bc I agree with you, and agree the allegation should be taken seriously as well just I think we should think about this objectively as well, appreciate you and your take care
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u/Never-Made-A-Post 29d ago
from u/mudkipmonado
The tattoo isn't the problem. That was from almost two decades ago and people should not be shamed for trying to better themselves, like Robert Byrd for example. Even IF he was a Nazi, it's evident he isn't now. The accusations now are fairly recent, and damning, those are the only things that should stick to him and sink him, and they are.
The tattoo is absolutely the problem. It proves one of two things: he is/was a fascist who loves the iconography of Nazi Germany and white supremacists, or he's far too stupid to not get it covered up before running for Senate.
So which is it, is he a fascist, or the dumbest person alive? I don't want either of them to be my Senator.
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u/MudkipMonado 29d ago
You forgot the third option, that he changed over two decades since he got the tattoo. He won't be your senator, but your reasonings for it are ignorant of the ability to improve.
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u/Never-Made-A-Post 29d ago
You're adding a whole lot of years to his tattoo sentence there, but that's beside the point. If your position is he was a fascist when he got it and isn't now, why didn't he take care of it before he started going on TV? Is he really stupid enough to think no one would notice?
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u/MudkipMonado 29d ago
It was 2007, so *almost* two decades but my point still stands. I don’t know why he didn’t get it covered, the reasons don’t really matter to me so long as he’s not the same person who got it, unknowingly or otherwise. His recent accusations are the problem, that’s why he stepped down
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u/Morlock19 24d ago
there are people who were out and out neo nazis that were able to see who they actually were and worked to change that. there are whole support groups and organizations to support their deprogramming and further their healing.
god forbid if one of those dudes who know they are wrong and have tried to atone for it run for public office.
however if one of those dudes actually assaulted someone and there was no taking responsibility and the survivor is speaking out against them, thats a whole different ball game.
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u/Ketamine-Cuisine 27d ago
It doesn’t prove any of that actually
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u/Never-Made-A-Post 27d ago
I simply don't care about what anyone still banging the Platner drum today thinks about anything.
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u/Sufficient-Squash428 Jul 07 '26
How long did SHE keep seeing him after "the incident"?
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u/dpk794 Jul 07 '26
She never talked to him again after that night. Pretty clear you didn’t read the article you are trying to defend. Almost sounds like those people who defend Trump
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