Cut Platner Loose
Just a few years ago, Republicans sacrificed an Alabama Senate seat rather than endure an unacceptable colleague. Will Democrats do the same in Maine?
TL;DR
- In 2017, Roy Moore was nominated for the U.S. Senate by Alabama Republicans despite multiple allegations of sexual misconduct with underage girls.
- Republican leaders, including Mitch McConnell, called for Moore to step aside, but he refused and lost the special election to Democrat Doug Jones.
- Senate Republicans prioritized party stability over Moore's presence, calculating it was better to lose the seat temporarily than have him as a colleague.
- Democrats in Maine now face a similar strategic choice with Graham Platner, accused of misconduct with adult women, which could impact their path to a Senate majority.
- The article questions whether Democrats in 2026 can demonstrate the same political shrewdness and toughness that Senate Republicans showed in 2017 by potentially sacrificing a seat over a problematic candidate.