A poll from Maine since Platner dropped out...

[kentuck]

I saw this on CNN.

Before Platner dropped out of the race, Susan Collins was up by +1 in the poll.

Since Platner dropped out, a generic poll showed Democrats up by +13 points. Granted that does not show a specific name, but it could be a good indicator for the Democrats, in my opinion.

Susan Collins is not as popular this time around as she was in previous elections, for whatever reason. Her voting record may have finally caught up with her?

If the Democrats can take that seat, it would be a big step forward in taking control of the Senate.

And that would be a big step in taking our country back from the brink.

[Turbineguy]

1. Sounds like she should be concerned.

[erronis]

16. Maybe an extra furrow in her brow?

[WorseDayEver]

18. Why should she be ? She is a multi-millioanaire with multi-millionaire friends.

[kentuck]

19. "concerned" is one of her favorite terms...

She has been "concerned" several times.

[3catwoman3]

37. I think it is her only term.

[Pototan]

41. Concerned about keeping her seat and power

not being broke.

[SalamanderSleeps]

43. She's still going to rest in the same box as Lindsey, eventually.

[303squadron]

27. I love sarcasm

When it burns!!!!

[Attilatheblond]

2. Something we often forget re senate races

In 6 years, a lot of young people become newly minted voters. In 6 years, the demographics can shift enough to make an impact.

[groundloop]

31. True.... when they actually show up to vote.

The younger people whom I know get easily discouraged if things don't go their way. (And that's exactly what the GQP wants).

[Beartracks]

33. This is my concern. (In a real way, not in a Collins way.)

[EdmondDantes_]

58. Sure most 18 year olds don't vote, but the general point is still good

The ones who were 18 in 2020 and statistically didn't vote are more likely to vote now. And not to be morbid, but some older people who were likely to vote won't this time, whether it's too much effort now or they passed. Demographics suggest this should favor us right now.

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/04/09/age-generational-cohorts-and-party-identification/

[hlthe2b]

3. Well, that is (potentially) some good news! Thanks, kentuck

[Ritabert]

4. How about Stephen King? He's been posting against Trump for years.

[okaawhatever]

10. He said politics were too scary for him. 😂

[Ritabert]

12. Too bad.

[pinkstarburst]

28. King is 78 years old

and has no experience other than tweeting.

There are some good choices in the running who have experience.

[Ritabert]

50. I hope so.

[yardwork]

5. I hope Maine can ride that wave to victory!

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Dems ditched a candidate with baggage who had turned off some voters

A cleaner candidate might fare better, and the party looks competent, able to police its own.

[thesquanderer]

15. though also, "generic" almost always polls better than any individual (n/t)

[Boo1]

7. In other words

The Democratic socialist that would "motivate people" was polling 12 points below a Democrat TBNL

[Gary 50]

11. No. A Democrat with multiple accusations against him is polling 12 points below

a yet to be chosen Democrat. Nice try with the "Democratic socialist" slander.

[Boo1]

14. Slander ?

To call somebody what they called themselves?

And it wasnt the accusations bringing him down because they hadn't been made yet. He was on a path to lose before, and Collins was happy to be facing him.

This is about how DSA candidate do not have nearly the broad appeal that DSA folks want people to believe.

[Soul_of_Wit]

17. Here is your slander

that would "motivate people"

Some might refer to it as an opinion or even painting with a broad brush.

[Boo1]

23. Really?

Because that was all I heard for month. We NEED somebody to motivate the voters and it was Platner! Was always BS.

[mr715]

21. Was Graham Platner a DSA member or are you just making that up?

[Boo1]

22. His reddit posts said so

[mr715]

25. I just googled and couldn't find anything

He said a lot of stuff.

Did he ever pay dues to the DSA? Does he have a membership card like I do to the ACLU?


Edit: Upon further googling, it appears he said he was a "DSA" type. Not necessarily a member, sensu stricto

[stopdiggin]

34. a distinction that matters greatly ?

Last edited Tue Jul 14, 2026, 02:08 PM - Edit history (1)

Gotta have a 'card' or it don't count?

point being, the guy put himself in that corner .. (rightly or wrongly). Let's not be castigating DU posters for saying so. Yeah?

[Celerity]

35. Platner was not a DSA member and the Maine DSA did not explicitly endorse him

Link to tweet

https://theconversation.com/democratic-socialists-arent-the-only-young-progressive-democrats-dividing-the-party-286411

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/06/18/inside-dsa-takeover-democratic-party/

[SunSeeker]

42. Platner was recruited to run by DSA members, and was endorsed by Bernie Sanders.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5908426-sanders-supports-platner-maine/

Bernie didn’t pull his endorsement until July 7. https://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-breaks-silence-graham-platner-rape-allegation-12167586

Morris Katz and his DSA colleagues Daniel Moraff and Leanne Fan recruited Platner without properly vetting him.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/these-people-handpicked-graham-platner-he-s-now-democrats-biggest-risk/ar-AA252G8G

Here’s Platner telling Jon Stewart about how they came to his house to talk him into running. Apparently, the extent of their vetting consisted of them looking up that he donated to Bernie Sanders, as Platner notes at the 8:12 minute mark:

[Celerity]

44. that is not what was asked, nt

[SunSeeker]

45. Yes it was. Platner was for all intents and purposes a DSA candidate.

Moraff and Fan had first gotten wind of Platner through the local DSA network, where he had been active in the local offshoot group Acadia Action and had been featured in a recent New York Times travel story about oysters in Maine.

[Celerity]

46. No, that was not the question asked by the other poster.

They asked, in post 21 (the post I replied to) if Platner was a DSA member:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221372939#post21


Platner was not a DSA member, nor did DSA endorse him, which I showed in my reply to that poster.

Here is a list, btw, of those who endorsed Platner:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_Senate_election_in_Maine

Endorsements

Graham Platner

Executive branch officials

Robert Reich, former U.S. secretary of labor (1993–1997) (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Nirav D. Shah, former principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023–2025) and 2026 gubernatorial candidate (endorsement rescinded after primary)

U.S. Senators

Ruben Gallego, Arizona (2025–present) (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Kirsten Gillibrand, New York (2010–present) (previously endorsed Mills, endorsement rescinded after primary)

Martin Heinrich, New Mexico (2013–present) (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Chris Murphy, Connecticut (2013–present) (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Bernie Sanders, Vermont (2007–present) (Independent) (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Brian Schatz, Hawaii (2012–present) (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader (2017–2021, 2025–present) from New York (1999–present) (previously endorsed Mills, endorsement rescinded after primary)

Tina Smith, Minnesota (2018–present) (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts (2013–present) (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island (2007–present) (endorsement rescinded after primary)

U.S. Representatives

Ro Khanna, CA-17 (2017–present) (endorsement rescinded after primary; endorsed Jackson)

Statewide officials

Shenna Bellows, Maine secretary of state (2021–present) and 2026 gubernatorial candidate (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Matthew Dunlap, Maine state auditor (2021; 2022–present), former Maine secretary of state (2005–2011; 2013–2021), and 2026 candidate for ME-02 (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota (2019–present) (endorsement rescinded after primary)

State legislators

Joe Baldacci, state senator from the 9th district (2020–present) and 2026 candidate for ME-02 (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Troy Jackson, former president of the Maine Senate (2018–2024) from the 35th district (2008–2014) and 1st district (2016–2024) and 2026 gubernatorial candidate (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Genevieve McDonald, former state representative from the 134th district (2018–2022) (endorsement rescinded before primary)

Hannah Pingree, former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives (2008-2010) and 2026 gubernatorial candidate (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Aaron Regunberg, former state representative from Rhode Island's 4th district (2015–2019)

Joanne Twomey, former state representative from the 19th district (1998–2004) and 135th district (2004–2006)

3 current state senators

16 current state representatives

Local officials

Karen Heck, former mayor of Waterville (2012–2014) (Independent)

Safiya Khalid, former Lewiston city councilor (2020–2022)

Carl Sheline, mayor of Lewiston (2022–present)

Party officials

David Hogg, former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (2025) (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Individuals

Ken Casey, vocalist for the Dropkick Murphys

Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers

John Hodgman, author

Stephen King, author

Josh Ritter, singer-songwriter

Jordan Wood, 2026 candidate for ME-02 and former candidate for this seat (previously declined to endorse; endorsement rescinded after primary)

Labor unions

Maine AFL-CIO (endorsement rescinded after primary; endorsed Jackson)

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers

Maine State Nurses Association

National Nurses United

United Auto Workers

Organizations

Christopher Street Project (endorsement rescinded after primary)

College Democrats of America (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (previously endorsed Mills, endorsement rescinded after primary)

End Citizens United (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Gen-Z for Change (endorsement rescinded after primary; endorsed Jackson)

Maine People's Alliance

Our Revolution (endorsement rescinded after primary; endorsed Jackson)

Progressive Change Campaign Committee

Progressive Victory (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Showing Up for Racial Justice

Sierra Club (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Track AIPAC (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Voters of Tomorrow (endorsement rescinded after primary)

VoteVets (endorsement rescinded after primary)

Political parties

Working Families Party (endorsement rescinded after primary)

snip

[SunSeeker]

47. The point is, Platner didn't need to be a "card carrying member of DSA" to be a DSA candidate.

Last edited Tue Jul 14, 2026, 06:54 AM - Edit history (1)

You don’t have to be a card carrying member of DSA to be a member of the DSA movement. As noted up the thread, Platner described himself as a “DSA type.” He was a member of a DSA offshoot, Acadia Action. He was talked into running by DSA operatives from New York who basically served as his campaign management. He was a DSA candidate.

[Celerity]

56. No. As I already posted in my initial reply to the other poster:

[SunSeeker]

57. I am well aware of what you posted. None of it negates the fact that he was a DSA candidate. nt

[Celerity]

60. No, your desire is not the determinant of fact, and I have shown effective, documented rebuttals to your claims.

[SunSeeker]

62. You have not rebutted my statements of fact, let alone done it effectively. nt

[SunSeeker]

48. Oh, and BTW, Maine DSA did explicitly "recommend" people vote for Platner.

Link to tweet

Check the comments to Maine DSA’s July 6 post trying to distinguish between “endorsement” and “recommendation.” Folks were not having it.

[Celerity]

59. They did not officially endorse.

Here is Maine DSA’s explanation of the difference between endorsements and recommendations.

The chapter will actively campaign for, knock doors, phonebank, & fundraise for endorsed candidates.

Recommended candidates are simply the least bad option.

Link to tweet

You also said:

Check the comments to Maine DSA’s July 6 post trying to distinguish between “endorsement” and “recommendation.” Folks were not having it.

Multiple 'folks' in that thread 'not having it' are RW POS MAGAts, go look at their profiles and other actions. So there is that.

[SunSeeker]

61. Trying to claim "recommendation" is different from "endorsement" is not a good look, to anybody.

Maine DSA was very explicit about wanting people to vote for Platner. It’s a fact, and these semantics don’t change that fact.

[lame54]

8. ICE may have just sealed the deal

[yardwork]

55. Yes, that's an example of how hard it is to control totalitarianism.

The term implies a strong central control but in practice what happens is incompetence up and down the line.

If Trump were really in control he would have made sure that states with must-win races weren't locations for ICE murders. He's not in control. Nobody is. He's unleashed chaos.

Like setting a forest fire.

[NCDem47]

9. And the Collins camp had spent $$$$ and WEEKS (Months?) of oppo reserach to go against Planter.

Poof! All out the window! She wanted Planter because HIS character was going to be what she used against him. Now, another Dem can shift back to Collins carrying water for Trump and tarring HER with his corruption and incompetence.

[sheshe2]

13. Recommend!!!!!!!!

[Roxi]

20. Platner wasn't a great candidate

I’m nowhere near Maine, but when he first announced his candidacy, I was put off by him. The tattoo, the arrogance, his history, all of it made me think he had significant skeletons in his closet. When the first sexual assault allegations came out, I wasn’t surprised.

I think there was a huge push to make him the candidate no matter what, and a lot of people probably supported him only because he won the primary. Now that he’s out, people are more optimistic. As long as there’s a good Democratic candidate, we might actually beat Collins.

[QueerDuck]

24. He was a disaster. A train wreck. Collins would have cleaned his clock!

I'm very happy to hear this news.

[RandySF]

26. I read that Jackson regularly outperformed

is his old state Senate seat that was otherwise pretty red.

[FakeNoose]

36. Scoop Jackson was a stellar Democrat, and a leader in the Senate

[Bluetus]

29. Or perhaps this is the explanation:

People were listening to Platner because he talked directly to the issues, unlike the usual doublespeak that candidates from BOTH parties are trained to do continuously. The people had some uneasiness with Platner's background, but they very much were called to action by a candidate with the courage to speak the plain truth and to call for real changes, not just happy talk.

Now Platner is gone and this generic poll represents how Mainers feel if he is replaced by their idealized candidate -- i.e. a person who is no bullshit, but doesn't have as much baggage.

Is there any such candidate in the running now? I know they all plan to use "progressive-ish" words in their speeches, but is there any candidate stepping up to carry on with real specifics and real action plans?

[appmanga]

30. She's on the Judiciary Committee...

...and if she votes for Blanche, she's done. She can't "hall pass" her way out of this one.

[mr715]

32. Also, any Supreme Court vacancies...

She is screwed either way.

[spanone]

38. K&R

[Cosmocat]

39. The ICE murder doesn't help her either

nm

[underpants]

51. I was just about to say the same

[BigmanPigman]

40. After ICE murders one of Maine's residents, which Collins supports

by approving funds to keep ICE in tact, I see the number of her supporters dropping like flies. I bet she still will not show up, why would she change now? We know what and who she is and it ain't pretty. TRAITOR!!!!!!! Storm HER office and home on Bastille Day tomorrow! STAND UP, FIGHT BACK!!!!!

"Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) voted to advance a $70 billion budget plan to continue funding ICE and Border Patrol. Her vote was cast as part of a legislative package to prevent a partial government shutdown, which was heavily debated and criticized by local groups".

[kentuck]

49. Platner was a flawed candidate...

...by Democratic standards. Any other time, an endorsement by Bernie Sanders would have been of great benefit to him. If he had been a Republican, they would have had no problem with him. Just the difference between the two Parties, I suppose. The fact that he was endorsed by the DSA is irrelevant. He was deemed a flawed candidate.

[cstanleytech]

52. Hopefully enough people in Maine will be tired of her being so concerned all the time and vote her out.

[SamuelAdams]

53. Voting to confirm Kavanaugh is a huge negative.

It's hard for Republicans to win in New England. She was seen as more of a maverick, old school liberal Republican. Now she is seen as more of a Trump supporter. Even her vote against the OBBB Act seemed like it was only because she knew it would pass.

[cannabis_flower]

54. And meanwhile in Texas

Talarico is tied with Paxton.

It would be so great if we Texas Democrats could win a statewide race in Texas.