Moving on from Graham Platner

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Democracy Dies in Darkness

Maine voters deserve a competitive race in November.

Graham Platner speaks during a campaign event in Portland, Maine, on May 25, 2026. (Sophie Park/Bloomberg via Getty Images) (Sophie Park)

The combustion of Graham Platner’s candidacy in Maine is another blow to a Democratic Party trying to mend its reputation after bungling the 2024 presidential election. As the state Democratic Party searches for Platner’s replacement, it has a chance to avoid the mistakes the national party made two years ago.

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