Editorial: What Dems should learn from Platner debacle

The editorial argues that Democrats should treat Graham Platner’s withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race in Maine as a “teachable moment” rather than simply scrambling for a replacement. It recounts that Platner, a veteran and oyster farmer, had been embraced by progressive leaders after Gov. Janet Mills dropped out in late April, helped by his combative style. The piece says early controversies were overlooked, including a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol and reports of sexting while married. It emphasizes that the campaign’s collapse accelerated after a Politico report alleging Platner forced a woman to have sex, which he denied. The editorial says the party should focus on what candidates offer voters beyond party narratives and stresses due diligence, citing reported old social media posts endorsing political violence and other inflammatory remarks. It adds that credibility damage extends beyond Maine and references warnings about how Democrats communicate with working-class voters, including comments attributed to Barack Obama. The article concludes that replacing Platner requires vetting “like nobody’s business.”