Maine Democratic Senate candidates uniformly back abolishing ICE, Medicare for All in debate

Key Takeaways from Thursday Night's Forum

Whatever distinctions may exist between the eight candidates vying to replace Graham Platner as Maine's Democratic nominee for the Senate, they were not on display in the first—and likely only—debate on Thursday night.

The candidates, ranging from political neophytes to longtime civil servants, all sounded ready to champion left-leaning causes in the fight against five-term Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins. Their shared platform included:

• Abolishing ICE
• Passing Medicare for All
• Tackling corruption in Washington
• Holding President Trump accountable

"Whoever wins this nomination, we need to show up at the polls," said Ashley Webb, a transgender activist. "We need to vote for them, and we need to make sure they win, no matter what, because what's going on in this country is not right."

The Context: Platner's Exit

Sexual assault accusations forced Platner from the race on July 9, a month after he had won the Democratic primary. In an 11-minute video posted on social media, he claimed innocence and blamed the political establishment and corporate media for his exit.

"We live in a political system that is not built for normal people," Platner said. "It is a system that is built structurally to make sure that movements like ours cannot flourish. That if they begin to succeed they can be crushed."

The video left a sour taste, as Platner seemed to imply that any "normal" person running for Congress could be plagued by scandals such as having a Nazi tattoo and being accused of rape.

A Crowded Replacement Field

Nine candidates jumped into the truncated race, which will be decided by 601 delegates at the party's state convention on July 25. The debate was held in two-hour blocks between four candidates each.

First half — Expected front-runners:

• Shenna Bellows, Maine's Secretary of State
• Troy Jackson, former Senate president
• Dr. Nirav Shah, former state CDC director
• Jordan Wood, who came in third in the primary for the 2nd congressional district

Second half:

• David Costello, an environmental policy consultant who worked in Maryland's Department of the Environment
• Elizabeth Dickerson, former state Representative
• Dan Kleban, brewery owner
• Ashley Webb, who visibly teared up when speaking about trans rights issues

Debate Performance and Substance

Their responses to questions were often hurried, unfinished, and somewhat unprepared—except Shah, who sounded the most polished, if a little professorial. On substance, however, they were very similar, and there was not much time to go deep.

None of the eight candidates appear to have a past like Platner's, but they presently share his politics, all sounding eager to win over the enthusiastic movement he had built.

A Note on the Primary Process

The situation prompted reflection on the Democratic establishment's role in the primary. Primary voters had a choice between Governor Janet Mills, the 78-year-old centrist who was handpicked by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and an oyster farmer whom political operatives plucked from obscurity and did not properly vet.