The Democratic Party in the United States is reeling from a candidate crisis in Maine ahead of the November midterm elections. Progressive candidate Graham Platner, whom the party fielded to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins, was forced to withdraw from the race after a series of scandals. Democrats are now racing to find a new candidate by the end of July.
Allegations of sexual assault, inappropriate messages and a Nazi-themed tattoo against Platner drew fierce backlash within the party. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania reacted, saying, “The trash took itself out. The people of Maine finally get a chance to vote for someone who isn’t trash.” Fetterman also criticized Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders for supporting Platner, stating, “Sanders should apologize to Maine voters and donors.”
Sanders had held a rally with Platner in Maine in May. After the scandal, criticism of the Democrats’ progressive wing intensified. Radical demands from groups such as the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), including abolishing the Senate and cutting the work week to 32 hours, are further fueling tensions within the party.
This infighting is not limited to Maine. In Colorado, Melat Kiros, who defeated 30-year House Representative Diana DeGette in the primary, had argued that “reparations are essential to combat white supremacy.” In the Michigan Senate race, progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed is calling for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and compares radicalism in Iran to the MAGA movement.
Republicans are closely watching the Democrats’ divisions. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy said, “Our secret plan was always to let them talk. The Democratic Party is headed for a reckoning.”
To preserve its thin Senate majority, the Democratic Party must win races in critical states such as Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, and Iowa, in addition to Maine. However, it remains unclear to what extent progressive candidates can attract independent and undecided voters in the general election.
