Maine Democrats are struggling to find a suitable replacement for Graham Platner as their Senate nominee. Eight candidates participated in a debate, but none could match Platner’s political skills, which allowed him to emerge as a viral sensation and poll neck-and-neck with Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Debate Highlights
The debate featured two rounds, with four candidates in each round. The first round included former public health official Nirav Shah, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and former Capitol Hill staffer Jordan Wood. The second round featured lesser-known candidates, including Dan Kleban, the founder of the Maine Beer Company.
The candidates focused on criticizing Collins and President Donald Trump, rather than differentiating themselves from each other. They also discussed their support for progressive policies, such as Medicare for All and abolishing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The debate was held ahead of the July 25 convention, where Maine Democrats will select Platner’s replacement on the ballot. The nominee will be chosen by 601 delegates, including 101 members of the Democratic State Committee and 500 chosen from the state’s 16 counties.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
