Democrats’ scramble to replace Graham Platner isn’t going well.
The party’s televised search for a new Senate nominee went off the rails Thursday as a crowded field of would-be replacements for scandal-plagued Platner offered voters everything from factual flubs to failed campaigns, songwriting, and vows to bring more anger to Washington.
Ashley Webb supplied, perhaps, the most viral moment.
Asked what qualified Webb to serve in the United States Senate, the openly transgender and intersex candidate began by highlighting an unbroken record of electoral defeat.
“I ran for office several times. Didn’t win, but I did run,” Webb said with a chuckle.
Webb then added songwriting and writing books to the résumé.
“And then I’m a songwriter, and then I write my own books, and then I suppose my transparency,” Webb said. “I wouldn’t lie to the people, and I wouldn’t deceive the people like we’re being deceived right now. Like we’re getting lied, like smoke and mirrors.”
The answer soon veered into immigration enforcement.
“Like what’s going on with ICE. Pretend like these victims did something wrong. Like it’s unacceptable,” Webb said.
Then came the closing pitch.
“And I suppose the biggest thing is like I’m just an angry citizen right now, and if I get elected, I’d be an angry senator,” Webb declared. “And I think that would be their worst nightmare.”
The internet had its clip. Maine Democrats still needed a nominee.
Watch the clip below:
Welcome to the Democratic Party. pic.twitter.com/cUkVqlR454
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 17, 2026
More clips from the debate below:
MODERATOR: "Should people be deported if they came into this country illegally, and there is a deportation order signed by a judge?"
Maine Democrat Dan Kleban: "If someone is here illegally…we need a pathway to citizenship." pic.twitter.com/sjLKTFQwUH
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 17, 2026
Starting to feel bad for these Maine Democrats 😬
SHENNA BELLOWS: "I have many ideas on this one."
MODERATOR: "Give me an example…"
BELLOWS: *buffers* pic.twitter.com/ifdM00tTWl
— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) July 17, 2026
Live from the Maine Senate debate…
Suddenly Graham Platner's win makes TOTAL sense.pic.twitter.com/poyuLgCPdC
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 17, 2026
Maine Democrat Shenna Bellows can't answer the most basic question:
Q: Would you approve of ending daylight savings?
BELLOWS: There are reasons for and against.
Q: Doesn't sound like a lot of conviction.
BELLOWS: I love when it gets light in the morning and dark at night. pic.twitter.com/Y811fZIasR
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 17, 2026
MODERATOR: What experience do you have in defense and national security?
KLEBAN: President Trump…
MODERATOR: The question was "what is your experience?"
KLEBAN: Well I wasn't in the military pic.twitter.com/glktL0LYZC
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 17, 2026
Maine Democrat Senate candidate Nirav Shah says he "doesn't buy it" that there's not enough money in the budget for his policies.
Sounds like something a socialist would say… pic.twitter.com/jSoUFnMpUk
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 16, 2026