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class=”img” alt=”Maine Senate hopeful, Democrat David Costello, speaks with a potential voter as he gathers signatures, required to be considered at the party’s convention in downtown Brunswick, Maine on July 12.”
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Maine Senate hopeful, Democrat David Costello, speaks with a potential voter as he gathers signatures, required to be considered at the party’s convention, in downtown Brunswick, Maine on July 12.
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Tamara Keith/NPR
BRUNSWICK, Maine – On a bright Sunday, Senate contender David Costello was on the streets of downtown Brunswick collecting signatures.
He approached a woman, asking, “Would you happen to be a registered Democrat?” After a brief exchange, the woman inquired if Costello was progressive.
“Very progressive,” Costello affirmed.
Costello is among several Maine Democrats viewing the collapse of Graham Platner’s senate campaign as a chance to represent the state in Washington.
Platner had secured a decisive win in the Democratic primary in June. However, allegations of rape by a former romantic partner surfaced last week, leading him to withdraw from the race. This has left Maine Democrats in a race against time to find a new candidate before the July 27 deadline for ballot inclusion. Platner denies the allegations.
The Maine Democratic Party plans to hold a convention on July 25, where 601 delegates will select the new nominee. The chosen candidate must harness the enthusiasm Platner sparked to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
An unstoppable incumbent or a top pick-up opportunity?
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Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, leans down to listen to a young paradegoer at the annual Moxie Day Parade is Lisbon, Maine on July 11.
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Senator Susan Collins remained silent following Platner’s campaign exit. However, during the annual Moxie Day parade in Lisbon, Maine, she walked alongside volunteers wearing red shirts.
“People appreciate the steady leadership I provide — and the word steady does come up a lot,” Collins mentioned at the parade, “and that I continue to work really hard for Maine.”
Having served in the Senate since 1997, Collins has retained her seat even as Maine has leaned Democratic in presidential elections, including the 2020 victory for Joe Biden. Collins secured her last reelection with a comfortable margin exceeding 8.5%.
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At the annual Moxie Day Parade in Lisbon, Maine, supporters of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, march with signs and giant letters spelling S-U-S-A-N, on July 11.
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Susan Sharon/Maine Public
For Democrats, Maine is a crucial battleground in their bid to reclaim the Senate. Platner’s exit has intensified the pressure on the party to find a candidate who can win over Platner’s supporters and also appeal to the independents who are critical to Collins’ success. Maine state Senate President Mattie Daughtry, a Democrat, is hopeful as many candidates are running on Platner’s transformative platform. However, she worries the process might alienate voters.
“I am deeply concerned about how many people might say, ‘oh well, this man failed me. Why trust anyone again?'” Daughtry remarked.
Daughtry did not support Platner and was quick to call for his withdrawal after the rape allegations emerged. Nevertheless, she believes his message struck a chord.
“I ran for office at 25 because I was extremely frustrated. I was juggling four jobs, couldn’t afford housing, and had no health insurance. Sadly, this situation hasn’t changed and remains a reality for millions nationwide,” Daughtry stated.
“We must find someone who can carry that torch, who understands what it’s like, and can tap into that raw energy,” she added.
Supporters weigh what’s next
A month ago, Alan Crichton played saxophone at Graham Platner’s primary victory party. At a Belfast, Maine brewery this weekend, he shared his mixed feelings.
“I have so many mixed feelings. I like the guy. I like his message a great deal and I think he galvanized people who are just kind of sick of what’s happening,” Crichton said.
Crichton now describes the situation as “a big old mess.” As a Democrat, he hoped Platner would be the one to finally unseat Collins, but he is now prepared to support whoever the Democratic party chooses.
“I hope it’s someone who can carry on the torch that Graham kind of lit and held out there very strongly. He was a very inspiring guy,” he stated.
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Joseph Berube of Northport, Maine, gave up on politics in 1972 after Democrat George McGovern lost the race for president in a landslide. This year, though, he got excited about Graham Platner’s candidacy for U.S. Senate.
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Joseph Berube, an independent voter from Northport, Maine, had been disengaged from politics for decades until Graham Platner reignited his interest.
“Because I am so apolitical,” Berube said, “I want nothing to do with it. [But] I was actually considering giving money to his campaign.”
On the other end of the spectrum, Charlotte Agell, a registered Democrat, has been politically active for years. She met Platner early in his campaign.
“One of our neighbors said, ‘hey would you like to come to my backyard and meet Graham Platner?’ I had sort of heard of him,” she remembered. “When I went to that back yard event, I just by happenstance walked in with him. It was me and Graham Platner walking in.”
By the end of that event, she had volunteered for his campaign.
“I felt a kinship with everything that was coming out of his mouth basically. Very smart. Good at identifying the problem,” Agell said.
At the heart of Platner’s economic populist message was the notion that the system fails ordinary people while the wealthy grow more powerful. Despite facing controversies, Platner won the nomination with ease. But the rape allegation changed everything. Berube felt the judgment came too quickly.
“I agree with women’s rights and women shouldn’t be abused,” he said. “But to have one person come up and stand up and say, ‘he abused me,’ and then that’s it? It’s just not really fair to him.” “I just think they didn’t want him,” Berube added.
Berube argues that the Democrats undermined someone who had re-engaged people in politics.
“He was bringing in people like me and that’s what’s going to do this. And you know what, we’re in the middle of a war to save this country,” Berube said. “And we have the other side that’s fighting with the gloves off and we’re putting the gloves on. We’re in trouble.”
Charlotte Agell processes the situation differently. She considers herself a chronic optimist but insists this wasn’t about one man.
“You know, we’re not a cult. We’re just a movement that wants to take back this country for the middle and the working class,” she said.
Agell is hopeful that this disruption won’t diminish the momentum for change she felt.
“It’s really been like a rocket ship. We’ve all been on it. And that’s why, when these very serious things have been alleged and rightly he has dropped out of the race, we’re kinda still flying at 90 million miles an hour and saying ‘who can take the controls’ and we’re going to figure that out,” Agell said.
State Senator Chip Curry says the state party is doing its best given the tight timeline.
“It’s a winnable race and we’ve got some great people. We’ve got to get there,” Curry said.
There are more than half a dozen announced candidates. The stakes are high for the Democrats, and no clear frontrunner has emerged among the candidates. It’s uncertain if any can harness the momentum Platner had built. Still, some remain optimistic.
“People are going to grumble. I’ve grumbled a little bit. But I think we’ll get through this,” Senate hopeful David Costello predicted. “I think whoever the nominee is will have tremendous support.”
