The high-stakes debate over who should replace alleged rapist Graham Platner on the Maine ballot took a bizarre turn when a transgender-identifying man was asked to explain qualifications for serving in Congress.
With the clock ticking to find a nominee, eight candidates vying to become Maine’s Democratic Senate nominee took the debate stage Thursday night, including transgender activist Ashley Webb.
“What qualifications do you have to serve in the U.S. Senate?” the debate moderator asked the Senate hopeful.
That’s when things got weird.
“Oh, I ran for office several times. Didn’t win, but did run,” Webb said with a chuckle. “Then, I’m a songwriter, and then I write my own books, and then I suppose my transparency… I wouldn’t lie to the people, and I wouldn’t deceive the people like we’re being deceived right now.”
MODERATOR: “What qualifications do you have to serve in the U.S. Senate?”
Maine Democrat Ashley Webb: “I’m a songwriter and I write my own books.” pic.twitter.com/csMIFkmt4Q
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 17, 2026
On the Maine Democratic Party’s website, Webb pledges to build on Platner’s grassroots campaign.
“As an openly trans and intersex woman, I know what it means to be told to wait, to be quieter, to let someone else speak for you. I won’t do that in this campaign, and I won’t do it in the Senate,” Webb’s platform reads.
During the televised debate, Webb expressed fear of being assaulted if biological males were fully removed from women’s spaces, including bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports.
“We’re being dehumanized. They say we want to hurt people. I don’t want to hurt anybody. I just want to use the bathroom,” Webb said on the debate stage. “If they want me to use the men’s room, I will, but I don’t want to be assaulted.”
Ashley Webb – a Democrat contender to replace Graham Platner for U.S. Senate:
“I don’t want to hurt anybody, I just want to use the bathroom…if they want me to use the men’s room I will but I don’t want to be assaulted.” pic.twitter.com/ckiNs08hi9
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 17, 2026
Republicans pounced.
Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro posted, “‘I wouldn’t lie to the people, and I wouldn’t deceive the people,’ said the man dressed as a woman.”
“I think the Democrats must nominate Ashley. No question about it,” said Tyler Bowyer, COO of Turning Point Action.
“Ashley is an incredible woman,” joked conservative commentator Jack Posobiec. “The Democrats would be doubling down on Platner’s misogyny if they refuse to support Ashley.”
News Center Maine, the debate host, split the candidates into two sessions. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah, and former congressional candidate Jordan Wood participated in the first hour.
The second featured David Costello, Dan Kleban, Elizabeth Dickerson, and Ashley Webb. Prediction Market giant Kalshi currently lists Jackson as the frontrunner to become the Democratic nominee. Traders give him an 89% chance of winning.
Facing a July 27 deadline, the Maine Democratic Party will hold a nominating convention on July 25 in Bangor, where 601 voting delegates – not Democratic primary voters – will choose the party’s nominee.
Despite decisively winning the nomination, Platner was forced off the ballot by Democrats following explosive allegations of rape and sexual harassment, which he denies.
The winner of the pop-up Democratic convention will advance to the Nov. 3 general election against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
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