The party of #MeToo and No Kings appeared poised to prove once again that “purity politics” won’t be applied when it comes to stopping Republicans ahead of the Maine primary.
(Video Credit: CNN)
Maine Gov. Janet Mills may have suspended her Senate campaign, but as she herself reminded, her name is still on the Democratic primary ballot along with Graham Platner. Despite an alternative to the scandal-plagued frontrunner, voters who spoke with CNN appeared to be treating the race like the general election, as one went as far as saying she’d “vote for a doorknob over Susan Collins.”
The sentiment shared by numerous Democratic voters was reported by CNN correspondent Arlette Saenz as she spoke with Erin Burnett on Monday from the Pine Tree State.
“We’re definitely voting for him,” voter Jan Anderson had told her. “Honestly, I would vote for a doorknob over Susan Collins.”
Likewise, having expressed her regret at not bringing a “Church ladies for Graham” sign to an event, Cheryl Cameron admitted, “He’s not a perfect guy. But I agree with his politics. And if his wife can deal with it, who am I to argue?”
The remarks aligned with the position of numerous lawmakers and talking heads who’ve adopted an ends-justify-the-means mentality in seeking a shift of control in Congress via the midterms, despite incumbent Sen. Susan Collins’ record as a RINO.
Included among those dismissing Platner’s dirty laundry, such as his since-covered Nazi tattoo and reports of the married Senate hopeful allegedly sending sexually explicit messages to multiple women, Democratic strategist James Carville admitted to CNN’s Jake Tapper that he would not be so forgiving if those same concerns were linked to a Republican candidate.
“It’s true. I would say you’re exactly right,” remarked Carville, who later added, “I think the greatest danger we face right now is from Donald Trump.”
Carville finally tells the truth, says Dem hypocrisy over Graham Platner is very real https://t.co/o3hBKWhl3t
— BPR (@BIZPACReview) June 7, 2026
Susan Gorman, another voter who spoke with Saenz, similarly looked at Tuesday’s primary through the big picture lens and said, “The problems that are facing Maine and this country are too serious for us to focus on this purity politics stuff.”
While polling from late May showed Platner maintained a majority support among women, and many Democratic primary voters remained undeterred by the scandals, at least one refused to hold her nose for the veteran and instead expected she would hold her nose for Collins in a likely November matchup.
“The more and more, and the closer and closer we get to tomorrow, the less and less comfortable I’ve been,” expressed Renee Barthelman. “I’m not happy with everything Collins does. I’m not happy with the way she votes in Congress, lots of times. So, she isn’t my first choice. But of the two, I would rather see her there.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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