Democrats must help Susan Collins retire from the Senate after the midterms.

[lees1975]

We must avoid, at all costs, a fight, or getting to close to deadlines, or looking like a bunch of chickens with heads cut off.

This is a priority. We need this seat, and the senator who is currently holding it, who has turned out to be one of the most dishonest, duplicitous, incompetents among the GOP, and that is saying a lot, has got to go.

Of course, it is a matter for the Maine Democratic party, so first of all, I plead with them, please don't blow this. And second, I ask, "What can we do to help?"

[walkingman]

1. The one person that can help silence this mess is Graham Platner. Until he withdraws it will continue.

[pat_k]

2. Collins can still be defeated. And WE WILL make it happen.

There are options when he drops out. For example, Shenna Bellows, Troy Jackson, Nirav Shah are mentioned. I understand Troy Jackson campaigned with Platner and could perhaps be a good candidate to carry the movement forward.

As per NYTimes (posted by RandyF here), plans are statewide caucuses or a "pop-up" convention 7/25 weekend (assuming he withdraws)

Maine Dems will get a new candidate. And they will not be selected by the party committee. (I found it notable that Mills was not included in the list of possible replacements. A very good thing IMO. I just don't see her inspiring many of those Platner inspired.)

And once they have their new nominee, the people of Maine, and supporters from afar, will make it a winning campaign.

Top Maine Democratic Party officials have discussed possible plans to replace Mr. Platner on the ballot, with options including a pop-up convention on the weekend of July 25 to choose a nominee, or holding a statewide caucus to effectively redo the party’s primary election, according to two people who have talked with the officials and spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal party conversations.

Officials have ruled out having the state party’s committee, which includes about 100 members, choose the nominee, the people said......

Should Mr. Platner withdraw by next Monday, the leading candidates to replace him could potentially include the Democrats who ran for governor and did not win the primary.

They include Ms. (Shenna) Bellows, Troy Jackson, a former president of the Maine Senate, and Nirav Shah, a former director of Maine’s public health agency. Jordan Wood, who lost a primary for a House district covering northern Maine, is also a potential candidate.

And here's a gift link to the article
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/us/politics/who-would-replace-graham-platner-maine.html?unlocked_article_code=1.v1A.iM4y.eQFzT3W_7ioS&smid=url-share

[Skittles]

3. there are PLENTY of politicians who need to retire

she is just one of them

[lees1975]

5. I really like Graham Plattner, and even now, I still do.

The guy had real struggles with PTSD and deserves more understanding than he is getting. What is so unfortunate is that he looks like a Baptist Sunday School teacher and a Mormon Missionary all rolled into one when compared with any one of two dozen Republicans, most notably the immoral rapist Trump, or the thug Paxton. My guess is that there might be some truth under what are a lot of sensational accusations, and while it does point to the fact that Democrats are megamiles ahead of the GOP on moral standards, its still very unfair to Plattner.

But the bottom line is that Maine has to make sure, for the sake of the rest of the country, that they retire the incompetent liar Collins.

Don't turn this into a circus, like the party did with Biden in 2024. Same goes for Plattner, use your head and realize this isn't something you can recover from. Get out and let someone else win this campaign.

[oasis]

6. Vote blue no matter who!