THE PLATNER FACTOR: They Threw the Whole Sewer at Him and Maine Handed Him 75 Percent

[Amaryllis]

https://ifloz.substack.com/p/a-new-dawn-in-maine-they-built-a
Lots more at link! Some really good stuff.

A New Dawn in Maine: They Built a Machine to Bury Him and the Bastard Came Up Swinging
THE PLATNER FACTOR: They Threw the Whole Sewer at Him and Maine Handed Him 75 Percent
Jun 10, 2026

Something cracked open in Maine on Tuesday night, and if you put your ear to the ground you can still hear the noise a rotten, gutless, donor-blown party makes when one working bloke kicks the door clean off its hinges and walks in covered in oyster mud.

Graham Platner. Oyster farmer. Marine. Four tours of someone else’s forever wars. The bloke the entire machine, both spineless wings of it, spent eight months trying to drown in cash and shit, got called the winner at 9:25 with 8 percent of the vote counted, because that’s how fast 75 percent slaps up on a screen. Janet Mills, the Governor that Chuck Schumer personally dragged into this thing by the collar, scraped 19 and then put out a statement so cold and so petty it forgot to mention the bloke who flogged her. They threw 24 million dollars, the New York Times, a convicted felon and a conga line of bed-wetting Democrats at one oysterman, and the people of Maine looked at the whole sorry circus, lit a dart, and told every single one of them to get absolutely fucked.

And here’s the kicker, the bit that makes you believe in a loving God again: the best advertisement Graham Platner got all week was delivered, free of charge, by the sweatiest felon in Florida.

Because the day after the win, the convicted criminal currently squatting behind the Resolute desk hauled himself upright at the signing of his shiny new ICE slush-fund and treated the nation to a lecture about what a dangerous thug Graham Platner is. Read it slowly. Savour it.

"He’s a thug. I know thugs. I built a lot of buildings. I dealt with the toughest people on Earth. I dealt with worse than thugs." Donald Trump, on Graham Platner

[LisaL]

1. In all fairness, he was running in primary where

the main opponent stopped campaigning. I mean, Collins run un-opposed so she got a 100 % of the vote. So I don't think his numbers mean what you think you do.
I can not find the totals of people voting for Platner versus Collins because for whatever reason they think her number of voters is not important. But that would be useful information to have.

[karynnj]

6. I see there are no totals for collins, but you can get a sense from the numbers for Governor

Both parties had competitive governors races and those totals suggest the approximate number of people who opted to vote in each primary.

The totals for all candidates were 209, 537 for Democrats; 119,911 for Republicans. For Senator, 208,311 people voted, so some people who voted for one of the candidates for governor did not vote in the Senate race.

[LisaL]

12. Interesting. Is that normal for Maine to have such a big difference in a primary between democrats and

republicans voting?

[karynnj]

14. No idea

I tried to figure that out by looking at previous years, but couldn't find a good comparison where a state wide race was competitive for both parties. The Senate comparisons are weird as King does not run as a Democrat and Collins has been uncontested in at least the last two primaries. ( I don't think it makes sense to go back before 2020 when she was last elected, as thinks may have shifted.)

Also, these numbers could be higher than normal as the Senate and Governor race would only both be on the ballot every 12 years.). The 2014 race both ran uncontested.

[karynnj]

19. Looking back, the 2018 Governor's race was competitive in both parties

There were 126159 Democratic voters and 119,911 Republican voters. Much closer. I don't know enough about that election, but on the Democratic side there were many candidates and it was not a blowout.

It clearly looks like Platner energized a lot of people to come out. Oddly, that might be because of the last minute attacks. Otherwise, it would have been seen as not competitive at all with Mills having dropped out and Costello having little support per polling.

[TBF]

28. In Texas we saw decreased republican voting in the primary -

Last edited Thu Jun 11, 2026, 02:10 PM - Edit history (1)

especially lucky in Pearland, TX - a neighboring suburb - where the candidate who won the mayor's seat is a popular community member (democrat) - who challenged an equally popular republican city council member. There hasn't been a democratic mayor of Pearland for decades and really highlighted the changes we are seeing this year.

For the republican run-off many have now heard - our long-term republican senator Cornyn lost his bid when MAGA showed up to give Ken Paxton (of all people) a victory.

So, democrats and MAGA are voting. We need to really amp up efforts towards all dems (young, old, everyone!!) and moderates this fall - no matter which state we're in. I don't believe MAGA is a majority in this country, but a vocal minority that does show up to vote. Every single race. We've got to get our base out and appeal to moderates as well.

[MustLoveBeagles]

30. This

[karynnj]

34. Note that Platner got more votes than Collins likely did

He got 150, 970. There only 101 585 votes in total on the Republican side for Governor.

Last reply on this, I promise!

[LisaL]

37. Thank you!

I tried to find out what the numbers are, and for some bizarre reason they don't think reporting total number of voters for Collins is important. Even if she run un-opposed, it's still important to know the totals for comparison.

[ThreeNoSeep]

7. In all fairness

Those of us who live in Maine wanted Platner and would appreciate it if out-of-stater Dems would stop undermining our candidate. TYVM.

[Ocelot II]

8. Yes, indeed. I don't live in Maine but I've been watching with interest,

and would have voted for Platner, warts and all, if I did live there. Now that he's the nominee chosen by the majority of the Dem primary voters in Maine, I say it's time for the rest of us to let the people of Maine 86 Susan Collins for their sake and for the sake of all the rest of us. Undermining Platner helps Collins. None of us want her back.

[LisaL]

9. Well, then don't opine on our candidates either.

[Nixie]

22. Exactly, that ship has sailed since the senator from Vermont

has full cleavers in elections wherever he deems fit nationally.

[EdmondDantes_]

24. Sanders is hardly the first politician to do that

He's trying to move the Overton window on our politics which comes from getting more people he thinks are in line with his approach than other Democrats. Does it always work? No.

Barack Obama did the same in 2006 (and obviously has afterwards), Elizabeth Warren does it. Ted Cruz has.

[mr715]

40. Voters decide elections.

[Sympthsical]

53. Schumer literally recruited Mills

LOL, be for real.

Everyone can chill. I know it's rare, but sometimes the establishment doesn't always get what it wants. And, as a progressive, I've received hundreds of these, "Blue No Matter Who" and "But you're still loyal, right?!" admonitions before a single word has left my mouth after a primary has finished.

I would not be so gauche as to repeat such behavior now that shoes have hopped feet.

I don't think we need another PUMA incident on our hands. It would be Bernie Broesque, and as noted ad infinitum, such behavior is not becoming of true Democrats.

Right?

[MadameButterfly]

59. He makes it possible for people to run

who wouldn't have the money, organization, or skills. These are local people, not carpetbaggers. The money comes from small money contributions, not corporations or dark money.

Nobody has to vote for them.

[paleotn]

51. That's such BS.

[MadameButterfly]

26. I respect and am grateful to Mainers for sticking with Platner

But his election matters a lot to me, even though I can't vote for him. And I too wish Dems would stop undermining him.
Even those who say well, we have to vote Blue but it's a terrible choice to have to make. Damn. I wonder if they've even heard him speak.
They've bought the smear campaign and still don't recognize the phenomenon that he is, his dedication to working people (which he defines as everyone who works for a living), his brillliance, his courage.

[TBF]

63. We had the same issue in Texas -

and I understand the legitimate concern because we had a great known US rep running against a lesser known (at least outside of TX) state rep in the primary. But Texas dems made their choice. It's difficult because there is so much on the line, and people want the very best chance of winning w/a great candidate.

Now that we've got the primaries settled it's time to completely support our candidates!

[ColoringFool]

64. NOW He Is The Candidate, Not Before The Primary.

[MadameButterfly]

80. Now he is the nominee

He was a candidate all along.

[AloeVera]

20. And it's a mystery why she stopped campaigning!

Totally.


As for the results, all that engaging in carnal knowledge of small rodents by various interests including the media did not get them the usual happy ending.

[MadameButterfly]

27. She should have reopened her campaign or taken her name off the ballot

Somehow she hoped the media would do the work for her? Mainers didn't fall for it.

[LisaL]

31. At some point it's too late to take a name of the ballot.

NT

[MadameButterfly]

45. But she went to the trouble to remind voters she was still on the ballot.

It's not like she was trying.

[AloeVera]

38. What I found too cute and calculating was when she came out after the NYT hit job

and "reminded" voters she was still on the ballot. It was not a good look for her. But in the end she MIScalculated.

[mr715]

67. Poorly calculated.

Too tepid and cowardly by half.

Run righteously and don't worry about losing, because you won't

Run terrified of losing and you'll do just that. "I'm still in the race, by the way, from the comfort of the Governor's mansion!"

[paleotn]

50. Her heart just wasn't in it

Makes sense given how abysmally she polled against Collin’s.

[Nixie]

25. Right again. Maine also handed Susan Collins 100%.

So…

[mr715]

39. Please just say as a Democrat, you support the Democratic nominee.

[paleotn]

48. In all fairness, I was told repeatedly the last two weeks

In this forum that Mills wasn’t out, how dare we support Platner, and Mainers should reject him. And now this , “in all fairness.” That’s moving the goal posts post facto. Seems Mainers decided NOT to fall for the bait and do Republicans work for them. Unlike those who will remain nameless. eyes:

[malaise]

2. And that is the

Last edited Thu Jun 11, 2026, 01:05 PM - Edit history (1)

TRUTH

[thebigidea]

3. Kinda delusional. The general is when the sewage gets unleashed.

[Midwestern Democrat]

60. As if the Republicans have a whole secret stash of unearthed stuff that the Democratic establishment hasn't already

thrown at him.

[City Lights]

65. Yup. There's a lot of time between now and November...nt

[Prairie Gates]

4. Remember when the anti-Mamdani clowns switched to "well Sliwa might win now!"

It's already starting...

[mr715]

15. "But Cuomo is the real Democrat! He's a fighter!"

[Prairie Gates]

16. Have takes ever aged more poorly than the anti-Mamdani crowd's predictions?

[mr715]

18. Fetterman...

[Hassin Bin Sober]

81. Ooofff

[gab13by13]

5. Maine voters choose their candidate by 50 points,

end of story, move on.

I support Democrats.

[LisaL]

11. We chose ours by 80 % points,

but it would be pretty naive to think he will have an easy time winning the general election based on that.

[MadameButterfly]

29. I don't think anyone is saying that the genereal election will be a slam dunk

Democrats are only daring to hope. But to ignore the excitement about Platner in the face of the negative press would also be pretty naive.
What is true, however you feel about Plattner, is that Democrats falling for the inevitable RW smears and amplifying them is the best way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

[mr715]

33. I think Platner is uniquely strong against Collins.

His scandals play into Susan Collins' support. There are people who will believe Graham Platner is a sexist, misogynist, men's rights candidate. Those low information, low propensity voters are coming from Susan Collins' base of support.

Additionally, he is a good speaker, while she is not. He speaks in terms of absolutes and does so simply, she never has.

He looks vital and dominating. She is tremulous and small.

"Moderates" don't seem to really have the appeal they once had, so I don't see Collins winning any ground there.

Finally, every single thing Trump does in the next several months is a challenge for Collins. If she supports an unpopular President, she risks losing mainstream support. If she fails to be lockstep, she is going to lose the MAGA base or worse, Trump actively rebukes her.

Imagine there is a vacancy on the Supreme Court. How could Collins vote that WOULDN'T hurt her?

In any case, while I acknowledge that Susan Collins has been a bedrock institution and political force in Maine, I think times up.

Our candidate is built to beat Susan Collins. More so than any other Democrat in consideration.

Much as Talarico might be the perfect candidate to run against Paxton, though that fight will be harder because Texas isn't Maine.

[MadameButterfly]

49. There are people who support Trump because "he talks my language"

I don't believe these people are as cruel as Trump, they just feel left out by the educated elite. They fall for Trump's plain talk and low vocabulary as something they have in common. His bullyish attitude makes them feel better about their own bad behaviors.

Platner has the means to attract these people while also modelling another way. You don't have to have been perfect all your life, you don't have to be a college graduate, and you might not have grown up knowing the pc way to treat women. Most of the people (most of all people) aren't as brilliant or articulate as Platner, but he won't make you feel less than over that.

Bernie appealed to a lot of Trump voters because of his plain talk, and he was the true populist that they believed Trump to be.
I agree that Platner might get some of the low information voters you described. But i think he'll get a wider swath of working people who have gone Republican in recent years, and who might be ready to come home. Platner is the real deal, the real populist they were looking for in the first place. They aren't looking for a choir boy. They want someone who speaks their language.

[mr715]

56. Agree with much.

I think the key to Platner's success is that he is going to voters and talking to them. He is articulating a vision for government that is functional while also giving his would-be constituency a chance to tell them about their needs and the trials they've faced.

As you say, Trump has a dominating presence and some people want a "daddy" leader. It is gross to me, but that is beside the point.

The nature of the upcoming election just favors the narratives Platner is pushing and complicates the potential story Collins wants to tell.

Does she claim she represents blue-state Maine?

Does she claim she is a ideologically consistent conservative? Or a pragmatic moderate?

Does she run on her successes with Kavanaugh et al.?

How is she going to keep her voters without mobilizing her opposition? How is she going to build her coalition without alienating her base?

With regard to Bernie Sanders 2016, I think part of his success had nothing to do with his plain talk. I think it was the first emergence of powerful countermedia narratives a la Rogan and other podcasts and social media campaigns. It was the appearance of distrust in institutionalism - we started seeing flat earthers again, for example. Bernie Sanders was the candidate that could run as an establish outsider. Since he was an underdog and since he is legitimately gifted with the best message discipline of anyone in the Democratic caucus, he quickly consolidated support around the populist left + anti-establishment unlikely voters.

I agree entirely that Platner opens up new voters and drives up turnout (to his advantage). That is why I see this election at probably a 5%-9% Platner win and not a 50/50 or 51/49.

[MadameButterfly]

66. i agree on Collins but I've never understood her appeal

so we have can't ignore her history of success, and outperforming polls.

Everything you said about Bernie, but I do think his repetitive plain talk was part of it, as opposed to Warren's 'I have a plan for that." (No criticism intended toward Warren, just think she didn't grab the population we are discussing).

Are your numbers correct at the end of your post? I don't understand a 5%-9% Platner win. Do you mean the margin?

[mr715]

70. Re: numbers

My gut says Platner will win 54%-46% or so, maybe slightly tighter.

And yeah - Bernie Sanders makes an emotional pitch, and Warren makes an intellectual pitch. Emotional pitches make better politics.

Plus, intellectual pitches don't seem to be very well received when they are coming from women... Sec. Clinton and Sen. Warren were both wonky and detail oriented.

Sen. Sanders just kind of has numbers and enthusiasm.

[ExtraGriz]

72. yep, times up for Collins..

While I voted for Mills twice, I felt times up for her.

As for Collins, she needs to go, times up 2x.

[Sympthsical]

10. Check out this Ken Klippenstein article, too. It's great.

Similar vein. Stick to the end where he predicts - probably extremely correctly - the new tack the media will take (which will 100% get repeated here under the guise of "concern" )

https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/platner-wins-washington-whines

Graham Platner decisively won the Democratic nomination to run for the U.S. Senate today — which will come as a shock to many in Washington media. They’ve spent the last several weeks treating his candidacy as a doom spiral to be gawked at rather than a campaign to be covered.

The clearest sign of how badly the capital wanted him gone wasn’t any single hit piece. It was the life raft the press kept throwing to Janet Mills. The 78-year-old governor, originally recruited into the Senate race by Chuck Schumer to block a fresh face from emerging, suspended her campaign back in April once the polls made clear Platner would beat her by a humiliating margin.

Mills never formally withdrew, so her name stayed on the ballot — which gave a certain class of pundit an opening. Right up until the polls closed, they kept musing that maybe, just maybe, voters would come to their senses and reject Graham "string of controversies" Platner. You know — the tattoo, the PTSD, the sexting, the threats. His real sin was failing to impress the elite, which in very independent Maine only helps him.

Washington focused on scandal because on the issues, it has nothing to say. "We're just reporting the facts," the media tells itself. But by ignoring Platner's policy views — and what Mainers actually want — it tipped its hand. Its conclusion is that the electorate can't be trusted, which is why the party keeps offering up experience and credentials (Mills, Cuomo, Biden, etc.) to keep voters from getting too uppity.

[Alice B.]

41. He absolutely nails the "genres to watch out for" (like the anonymous sourcing one)...

And oh, from "now here comes the hard part" to "he won by less than you think."

[ThreeNoSeep]

13. The enthusiasm is strong in Maine, despite the nervous Nellies

Graham Platner 149,918
Janet Mills 40,048
David Costello 17,207

The governor's race had a full slate of possibilities and is a measure of Democratic enthusiasm vs. Republicans.
The Democratic defenders of freedom cast 205,000 votes and the GOP fascists drew out about 110,000 voters.

[Scrivener7]

17. I'm all for a spirited primary, but it's over now. So it's time to get behind the candidate and the party

without reservation.

Every one of us. Our Democracy depends on it.

[questionseverything]

23. I thought the platner bashing was supposed to end after his primary win

But the same people are still trying to drag him down

[Hassin Bin Sober]

44. Just the usuals. Pay them no mind.

[mr715]

47. Fewer of them. But they still form a herd.

[EdmondDantes_]

55. So the people who opposed Platner are a herd because they moved together

What does that make the people who supported Platner who are moving together? Sounds mighty herd like. The rules of the site saying everyone has to support nominees, the general notion of political parties, employees who work together for a common company goal, unions, most people tend to move in herds of like minded people to accomplish things. That's not some special thing that only applies to those you disagree with as easy of an insult as it might be.

[mr715]

58. Hm.

You support the Democratic nominee, yes?

[ColoringFool]

69. Operative Word's Being "NOMINEE."

[Hassin Bin Sober]

79. It's called a "Hall" (bingo)

[republianmushroom]

21. The old guard wants it their way only.

[MadameButterfly]

36. Every time I hear a Democratic pundit

pained at the choice they are being forced to make I wish I could reach out across the radio waves and punch them.

[lame54]

32. Susan Collins is NOT concerned...

She's full blown petrified

[rubbersole]

42. And a beautiful sunset awaits for her to walk off into.

[infullview]

35. Voted for Platner.

Mills burned her bridges by taking huge amounts of money from big energy. A referendum on the CMP corridor was voted down, but somehow managed to continue to be built. Yes, I had my doubts about Platner, then I heard his speaks from Bar Harbor and was won over.

[orangecrush]

43. Graham PLATNER!

Graham PLATNER!

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

46. I was observing all of this spectacle around Platner's run...

I never weighed in, primarily because I do not live in Maine. I am very pleased that the election went the way it did. I was hoping it would. This is a good sign but also a warning. Expect the PEDO/GOP to really escalate all of their foul tactics. It's already starting. It will get much worse before midterms. Again, i fully expect to see ICE at polling locations in blue/minority districts. But keep your heads up and keep pushing back. We will be victorious!

[JBTaurus83]

52. Unfortunately

There is plenty of assistance from Democrats as well. Vote Blue No Matter Who only seems to apply to Manchin and Sinema type candidates.

[Deminpenn]

54. Planer terrifies the establishmentarians

whether political, business or media

He is the tip of the spear, fitting for a former-Marine, that is going to upend the cozy relationship the establishment enjoys with itself.

I am talking about FDR level radical change that won't be reversed by opponents as many of the New Deal programs ultimately were.

Took awhile to come around to the idea of radical change, but I doubt I'm alone. This is why the nibble at the edges crowd is terrified of Platner.

[JustAnotherGen]

62. If there are going to FDR radical changes

Then there need to be carve outs for Black Americans. We were dragged here too long ago and have had to wait too long.

I will completely turn against this country - if for example- we have to wait for Medicare for all - while PAYING for it -

Just like we did Social Security.

Give me a Greater Society - not another raw deal.

[Deminpenn]

82. Unless you are the richest of the rich, an amoral busineesman or banker or somehow profit off the misery

of the masses, radical change is going to help you regardless.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

57. Who wrote this?

I'm curious but I'm not interested in signing up for substack and I don't know who I Fucking Love Australia is.

[ColoringFool]

61. People ARE Reading The Same Derogatory Statements About Democrats As I Am, Right?.....

"a conga line of bed-wetting Democrats"?

"both spineless wings of it"?

"rotten, gutless....."

[ColoringFool]

68. WAIT! WE NON-MAINERS SHOULD SHUT UP, BUT SOMEONE WHO SPELLS IT "SAVOUR" IS FINE AND.....

DANDY??!

THIS SCREED WAS NOT WRITTEN EVEN BY AN AMERICAN!!

Prove me wrong.

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[mr715]

71. Maybe a xanax?

[orangecrush]

73. ...

[ExtraGriz]

74. times 10x

n/t

[ExtraGriz]

75. same shit..different day

We consider him a savior.

Signed,
From Maine

[JustAnotherGen]

76. Exactly

[Ziggy Beans]

77. He was polling at 75% BEFORE they threw the whole sewer at him

Maine don't care and they shouldn't

[Kingofalldems]

78. A few here tried to 'Al Franken' him.

Didn't work.

Now on to victory.

[liberalla]

83. Woo hoo!!!

I love it! ❤️

We have to get Collins out of there!

This substack I fucking love Australia is worth checking out. They've had some other great pieces also.