(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Who will run on Platner’s platform? [1] ['Meteor Blades', 'Patricia Parcells', 'Black Kos', 'Darrell Lucus', 'Chitown Kev'] Date: 2026-07-07 Ok this is a quick, short diary about Graham Platner possibly / probably dripping out of the race, but more importantly, who carries his winning message forward. It actually addresses a larger issue batted about here in the last couple of weeks about divisions in the Democrat party because of a couple diaries Kos recently wrote and the pot he stirred up: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/6/24/800060182/news/why-democrats-need-their-own-trump/ https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/6/25/800060664/whitehouse/yes-there-is-plenty-that-democrats-can-smash/ https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/6/27/800061316/series/a-fiercely-divided-debate-over-democrats-future/ First, Mainers are going to do what Mainers are going to do about it. All the I-told-you-so-ers, save it, and tell it to the 72% of blue voters in Maine instead. Honestly, stop blaming this community for the nomination. Here’s the larger point, and I believe it brings great clarity to the issue of divisions in the party and an answer to all those wringing their hands over “Why can’t we all just get along and unify?”; this situation may offer clarity as to reasons. And even a solution. 72% of Mainers did not nominate Platner because of the man. Pure and simple. They nominated his platform, his vision, the policies he promised to fight for in the Senate. The man was only the vehicle to present it to them in a way they understood and agreed with. What’s unique about this situation is that if we remove the man from the equation, what remains? If there’s a problem with the man himself, the message remains. There also remains his campaign funding, and a team that has performed an amazing feat, even with a candidate who spent his entire time balancing on a high wire. What if they work behind someone more grounded? We might see the Democratic Senate campaign in Maine turbocharged in the last few months. I certainly hope they are looking for that person. And I suggest maybe we should put pressure on leadership in Maine and Washington and insist the party get behind his team and a new candidate, consider their lessons learned, and see what they and Democrats can do with it. This situation may simplify the reasons and conclusions for making unity possible. Who will carry the message? I have been saying over the last 12 hours or so, there must be someone in Maine, ideally a politician with the progressive bona-fides, track record, and some time in office, who is all-in on Platner’s platform. Probably more than one person, there may be choices. For a message which I will continue to point out won a Democratic landslide majority approval rating in relatively purple state! Can they find someone ready to jump into political office tomorrow? Statistically I think so. Someone who can step up and make the transition. With a long-standing clean record. There are some people already being floated, but some of us are concerned about a Collins-light becoming our nominee. Is that what we hope they’ll choose? That is a clear problem which makes Collins the logical candidate to elect if she’s good enough. So far, among all the people floated, there are suggestions they are all problematic in some fashion, or, they do not have a record that suggests truly following on Platner’s proposals to Maine. Perhaps many voters there felt Mills was too close to that Collins-light mark. Rejected so strongly I don’t think she would even try again. Perhaps a woman is the more secure route. In any case, here’s a chance to substitute the messenger. The thing is, the opportunity, the incredible social science experiment which can be tested(!), with Platner having been the control and now adding a new element, if the platform itself could be adopted by someone who has shown they’d fight for it in the Senate through past performance in the state. A chance to demonstrate what wins 72% approval among blue voters is not a fluke. Like it or not, perhaps that way goes winning unity party-wide. Platner was a neophyte who won, meaning someone reliable to run on the platform needn’t be particularly more experienced than him, and yet any office holding more experience beyond a town council would still be an extra advantage. Someone who is union affiliated as well would be better. Perhaps a solid, proven union organizer and leader would be qualifying enough if they have serious union experience alone. Someone with a history unlikely to be a Fetterman or Sinema in a working class state like Maine, which in this day and age, is likely to be doubly vetted by Maine at this point as time allows. The message and vision is a winning one. They haven’t found the person yet, perhaps in a couple of weeks we’ll see how it shakes out. Having a solid replacement is incentive for Graham Platner to step down as the nominee. Perhaps he understands this himself and is ready to bow out. But it’s also a golden opportunity for someone to step forward, and fighting for that banner of unity we may best coalesce under. Again, Mainers are going to do what Mainers are going to do. But I hope they take a deep breath, wait a beat, and then pursue their golden opportunity to perhaps demonstrate finding someone who will represent them on what Platner’s progressive New Deal vision is, what rejections of norms they accepted, and the reforms they nominated for, and rally behind that someone. And then, as polling has suggested, have as good a chance as any to beat Collins for her seat. Which has been as possible in 2026 as much as it has ever been, especially with anti-Republican winds blowing hard. After all the large DSA landslide wins, this may be the capper showing a different approach which will be successful in winning over a majority of voters. We may have found the grassroots key to winning, and unifying, and playing in more than solid blue states. Among all blue voters, including our very important Independent allies. A lot of old time leadership and some rank and file do not like it, but maybe nothing will illustrate the old ways we have functioned under over the last 50 years in the party, in America, need to change. 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