Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, speaks during a "Fighting Oligarchy" campaign rally with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in Portland, Maine, U.S., May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Amanda Sabga
I truly don’t know if Graham Platner is guilty of the accusations against him. There is no question that these are serious enough accusations and he doesn’t belong on the ballot for the United States Senate. On that, I’m sure we all agree.
Platner was the type of candidate I’m intrigued by. He’s a veteran who works with his hands as an oyster farmer. A type of work that only his part of the country understands. A man with the talent to convey a message that brings passion out in people. The kind of passion that makes you want to vote for him.
That didn’t matter. In the end, the accusations did. Between the sexual assault charges and other baggage, there were too many scandals that mattered more. So many that the very people who should have been working to get him elected pulled their support, and told the world exactly that.
So Platner quit. As he should have.
I’m proud to say that the Democrats did what they did. The difference is that the Republicans didn’t do the same.
The Republicans had a candidate accused of the same things. A candidate whom they knew was guilty. That’s the difference. Their candidate was found guilty in court of law.
So if any Republican tries to take the moral high ground, keep that in mind. They knew for sure that Donald Trump was a rapist.
Good riding with you,
Joel
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