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Post-Platner Politics: The Democrats Fight for Wales After Shedding Their Values

Turley argues that Khanna’s earlier support for Platner conflicts with his stated opposition to sexual assault and violence against women.

Post-Platner Politics: The Democrats Fight for Wales After Shedding Their Values
Image · JONATHAN TURLEY

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This article1 analysis · Oct 4, 2026

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JONATHAN TURLEYcites Fox
Jul 9, 2026
tl;dr

Jonathan Turley argues that Democratic politicians’ past support for Graham Platner, followed by his withdrawal from the Maine Senate race, has exposed what he sees as the party’s hypocrisy. He also criticizes the party’s process for selecting a replacement and discusses Shenna Bellows as a possible candidate.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Ro Khanna D · CA-17
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Khanna in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Khanna’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Ro Khanna
D · CA-17

Representative criticized for his past support of Platner and later withdrawal of support

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Maine Senate candidate who withdrew from the race

Platner's version of this story ↗
Sheldon Whitehouse
D · RI · SEN

Senator criticized for his comments on allegations against Platner

Whitehouse's version of this story ↗
Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Senator whose seat Platner was seeking

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President mentioned in connection with Bellows’s attempt to exclude him from the presidential ballot

Maine secretary of state discussed as a possible candidate for the Senate seat

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator named among politicians criticized for their handling of Platner

Eric Swalwell
Former U.S. Representative (D-CA)

Politician cited in a comparison with the handling of Platner’s controversy

Kamala Harris
Former U.S. Senator (D-CA)

Former vice president invoked as a comparison for the party’s selection process

Elizabeth Warren
D · MA · SEN

Senator criticized for her past support of Platner

ALSO MENTIONED  Barack Obama, Former president quoted in a comparison describing Platner; Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court justice mentioned in a comparison about past allegations

Part of a bigger story

7 OUTLETS
Ro Khanna Calls on Graham Platner to Leave Maine Senate Race

After a sexual-assault allegation against Graham Platner, Ro Khanna withdrew his endorsement and urged Platner to leave Maine’s Senate race. Platner denied the allegation. Center outlets report Platner’s denial and calls for him to exit; Politico foregrounds backlash over Khanna’s earlier support. Right-leaning outlets also report the withdrawal and calls to exit, with some portraying Khanna’s timing as politically damaging and Democrats’ earlier support as hypocritical.

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