this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2026
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This means he can be replaced with another Democrat

Per the NYT

Graham Platner can be replaced as the Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine if he withdraws from the race by next Monday, and state law would then give the state Democratic Party until July 27 to name a replacement.

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[–] Nobody@anarchist.nexus 57 points 5 days ago (4 children)

The majority is on the line. If there was ever a time for the establishment to step aside for a young, energetic progressive who can rally support quickly, this is the time. No fundraising roadblocks. Go full tilt.

[–] TachyonTele_Esq@piefed.social 35 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (88 children)

Basically your saying the higher ups will block any young hopefull that has ideas, and make sure another old white dude with money is the choice, right?

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 18 points 5 days ago (11 children)

This feels, like, more-so-than ever before, like pressure from Israel/ AIPAC. I just, it would be literally insane for Platner to deny this if its in any way true. At least like this. As categorically as its being done. And now, as I'm listening to coverage in real time, its all "I told you so's" from Democratic party talking heads.

This feels insanely corrupt.

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[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 3 points 4 days ago

Nah, it'll be an old rich white woman this time: Janet Mills, probably...

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[–] YoureHotCupCake@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

Lol that will never happen, they are OK with losing as long as a progressive doesn't end up in office. Just look at the 2024 election they chose the weakest candidate they could with Kamala who had gotten like 3% of the vote in the 2020 democratic primary before dropping out.

They will choose a Zionist who takes money from AIPAC, loves data centers, is 70 years old, and wealthy. Then they will blame voters when they lose in Maine.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 9 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I mean his suspension speech is basically saying, without saying it, that the call is coming from inside the house. He's saying this is insider Democrats doing this, and then almost instantly, there is this announcement from Maine DNC on how its going to work, and lo-and-behold, they're doing an insider only process with you guessed it, super delegates.

Look its been a hard 24-48 hour roller coaster. I've been supportive of Graham, vocally so. I heard this new accusation, it seems highly credible, and I looked at it, and I said, Graham is going to have to step down.

There were plenty here, including @WoodScientist@lemmy.world who pushed back that there actually was no evidence in this accusation. And now, suddenly there is this announcement from Maine DNC on how its going to work, and lo-and-behold, they're doing an insider only process with you guessed it, super delegates.

And Platner is categorically denying all of this, which is a criminal accusation. You don't do that if you don't plan on going to court and winning. Now I've got fucking whiplash from all this.

[–] WoodScientist@lemmy.world 17 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (5 children)

What I never saw once during the discussion over the last 48 hours is, what exactly is someone supposed to do if they're falsely accused of rape when running for office? Because the current standard seems to be that it's a guaranteed way to tank any campaign. And all you have to do to tank any candidate you don't like is find some old ex of theirs, and offer them money or threaten them into making a false accusation.

And what people really missed was that political ratfucking is ALWAYS designed to sound reasonable. Everyone already knew that Platner was/is a bit of a creep. So a rape allegation would seem in character. You craft an allegation that fits the person. If someone has complicated business dealings, you accuse them of fraud. If someone has a long military career they're running on, you accuse them of cowardice or dereliction of duty. If someone has some misogyny in their past, you accuse them of rape. In no case will a false accusation ever make people go, "now that's not likely, that doesn't sound like something he would do." If AOC runs for Senate, she won't be targeted with rape allegations, it will be something more believable.

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

what exactly is someone supposed to do if they're falsely accused of rape when running for office?

"Nothing" seemed to work pretty well for Joe Biden. When your accuser has messages regarding you being a rapist dating back to years before you ever ran for office, and your friends corroborate that you've never once changed your story, then the only reasonable option is to step down

Because the current standard seems to be that it's a guaranteed way to tank any campaign.

You know how I know that's bullshit? There are no credible rape allegations against Zohran Mamdani. If it was that easy to tank someone's campaign, they would have done that the second he gained literally any popularity

[–] chilicheeselies@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

They tried to turn on the Muslim fear tap on him. But really he is just such a better politician in every way.

The reality is that what happens is that unless someone is perfect, they don't have a chance. There just aren't enough people who have never made mistakes who also are willing to go through the horse race and bullshit. It's just not possible to fill several hundred seats of congress with progressives if the bar is perfection. There are gonna be a few... Colorful characters.

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