A Maine-based breastfeeding group is facing major backlash for promoting “trans lactation” and displaying a disturbing image of what that looks like.
The Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition posted the image last week on Instagram in honor of National Breastfeeding Month. 
“National Breastfeeding Month is for every family,” the group wrote. “We&#8217;re proud to celebrate and uplift trans lactation, chestfeeding, and Two-Spirit families during National Breastfeeding Month. Every family deserves affirming, respectful, and evidence-based care. Creating inclusive spaces means recognizing that parents use different words to describe their feeding journeys, and honoring each person&#8217;s identity and lived experience.” 
“Milk makes families, and every family belongs,” the group added.
Predictably, comments on the social media post are turned off, but a screenshot of the post shared by Libs of TikTok set off a firestorm on X. 
“You will live to see man-made horrors beyond your comprehension,” Libs of TikTok <a href="https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/2089766034181890141">wrote</a> in response to the image of a bearded woman, or possibly a man pumping fake (or actual) breast milk out of his or her chest.
“Those people are not just insane but pure evil. WTF?” one comment <a href="https://x.com/pattyandbeagle/status/2089908380546551939">said</a>.
“This is disgusting and wrong on so many levels,” another person <a href="https://x.com/GNFranzia/status/2089864084934074574">agreed</a>.
The Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition touts itself as <a href="https://www.mainebreastfeeds.org/about">having a mission</a> to “empower and nurture Maine families throughout their human milk feeding journeys.” The group offers an FAQ document for “LGBTQIA2S+ Parents” which includes some instructions on “chestfeeding” for men and other abominations.
“Inducing lactation in transgender women is very similar to inducing lactation in cisgender women. While there are transgender women who have successfully established a milk supply, the amount produced varies from woman to woman,” the <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/623c93ab859fd10054a0c136/t/6961055db3607530a4c75381/1767966058235/Q%2B+Parent+Resource.pdf">resource material</a> says.
The document also downplays any risks of “chestfeeding” a newborn baby while taking testosterone.
“Currently, not much evidence exists as to the safety of taking testosterone while chestfeeding,” it says. “The studies that do exist show that taking testosterone (either via cream, gel, orally, or injection) does pass into human milk in low levels, but this low amount does not adversely affect the baby or increase the levels of testosterone in the baby’s blood. It is currently considered safe to chestfeed while on testosterone.”
The organization encourages “non-birthing parents” to bond with the baby by inducing lactation. This practice sometimes involves biological males using a breast pump to produce a milk-like substance from their bodies.
“It is important to know that inducing lactation can take a lot of time and energy, but it is worth it for many families,” the document states.

Trans breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Group Promotes ‘Trans Lactation’ With Horrifying Photo

Breast Milk

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Maine

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Graham Platner, the former Democratic Senate nominee, is scheduled to headline a Labor Day rally in Ellsworth, Maine, next month, marking one of his first public appearances since his scandal-infested campaign collapsed.
The event, billed as a “Labor Day Rally for Labor,” is being organized by Hancock County Activists and Acadia Action Peacemakers, two groups that have helped organize “No Kings” protests and other activist events in the area. According to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/13/graham-platner-maine-event-speaker-01036207">Politico</a>, Platner will speak about the history of unions and the role organized labor has played in American communities. The event is scheduled for Sept. 7 at Ellsworth City Hall.
The Hancock County Democratic Party has said that the event is not an official party function and is not affiliated with the Maine Democratic Party. The county party has nevertheless <a href="https://hancockdems.org/event/labor-day-rally-2026/">shared information</a> about the event, with social media posts mentioning Platner&#8217;s appearance reportedly deleted while the event remained listed on its website.
Platner&#8217;s return to the public eye comes mere months after he abandoned his campaign against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Platner won the Democratic nomination in June and quickly became a national figure, winning endorsements from prominent left-wing figures including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA). His campaign subsequently unraveled after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-new-sexual-assault-accusation-rocks-maine-democrat-graham-platner">reports came out</a> that a former girlfriend accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021. Platner denied the allegation and said the accusations were false.
The allegations followed months of other controversies surrounding the candidate, including sexually explicit messages sent to women, controversial social media posts, allegations from former girlfriends of disturbing behavior, and a tattoo of Nazi imagery.
Ultimately, Platner <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/platner-caves-suspends-senate-campaign">suspended his campaign</a> in July, and Maine Democrats subsequently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-party-bosses-crown-new-nominee-to-replace-graham-platner">selected</a> former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson to replace him on the ballot.
Jackson has attempted to distance himself from the controversy while inheriting Platner&#8217;s Democratic coalition. He previously endorsed Platner and appeared alongside him at campaign events, but called for Platner to leave the race after the sexual assault allegation emerged.
Platner has largely remained out of the public eye since departing the race. His upcoming Labor Day appearance suggests that, despite his political collapse, he may not be finished playing a role in Maine and in the far-Left political movement more broadly.

Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner Holds His Primary Election Night Event

Graham Platner Isn’t Exiting The Stage In Maine

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graham platner

labor

Labor Unions

Leftism

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Maine Democrats

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Radical Left

Maine Democrats have another headache on their hands after newly surfaced police records revealed that Senate candidate Troy Jackson was involved in a violent altercation nearly 40 years ago — an incident that included him breaking down a door and punching another man.
The March 1988 incident, first reported by the <a href="https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/08/12/mainefocus/mainefocus-government/troy-jackson-punched-man-pushed-partner-police-report/">Bangor Daily News</a>, occurred when Jackson was 19 years old. According to a Fort Kent Police report and a handwritten statement from the other man, Jackson arrived at a home shortly before 2 a.m. and kicked in the door after being told to leave.
Jackson then allegedly grabbed the man by the throat and swung at him, striking his glasses and cutting his face, according to the report. The man eventually restrained Jackson until one of Jackson&#8217;s friends intervened.
The man also told police that Jackson warned him to stay away from Lana Pelletier, referring ot Jackson&#8217;s girlfriend at the time and longtime partner.
Jackson does not dispute the fight. 
“Nearly forty years ago, when I was 19 years old, I got into a fight with another man. I took responsibility for it then, and I take responsibility for it now,” Jackson said in a statement. “But let me be clear: I have never been violent with my partner Lana, or any other woman.”
The surviving court record shows Jackson resolved the misdemeanor assault case by agreeing to pay the man $50. A background check conducted by the Bangor Daily News found no other criminal record associated with Jackson.
The police report also contains an allegation involving Pelletier. According to the report, Pelletier told an officer that Jackson had “pushed her around” following the altercation and that she intended to seek “cease harassment papers.”
Pelletier disputes that account. 
“I do not remember making the statements attributed to me, and they are not accurate,” Pelletier said. “This is the first time I have seen this report from 40 years ago. Troy and I have built a life and family together and I know the person he has been through the decades since, both as a caring partner and father.”
Jackson and Pelletier —unmarried <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platners-replacement-accused-of-having-kids-with-cousin">second cousins</a>— have been together for roughly four decades and have two adult sons. 
The revelation comes at an awkward time for Jackson, who only recently emerged as the Democratic Party’s replacement nominee in the race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins after the collapse of Graham Platner’s campaign.
Jackson has already faced questions about his temper during the current campaign.
In 2021, while serving as president of the Maine Senate, Jackson became embroiled in a heated dispute with then-state Sen. Heather Sanborn over legislation. Multiple witnesses told the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/us/politics/troy-jackson-maine-senate.html">New York Times</a> that Jackson lost his temper and threw a half-empty water bottle across the room.
The witnesses said the bottle did not hit Sanborn and was not aimed at her, and Jackson later apologized. One Democratic senator who witnessed the incident described it as an “anger spell.” 
Jackson acknowledged that he should not have thrown the bottle, while insisting that he was simply passionate about the issue.
&nbsp;

Maine Democrats Pick Ex-GOP Logger In Must-Win Senate Race

Troy Jackson Admits To Assault After Police Report Surfaces

2026 election

2026 elections

2026 midterm

2026 Midterms

Assault

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Senate Democrats

Troy Jackson

U.S. Senate

Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson held a campaign event co-hosted by an activist who has written extensively for the Communist Party USA, adding another unusual chapter to a Democratic Senate campaign already marked by a series of controversies.
Lorri Nandrea of Canton was listed as one of four hosts of a June 5 campaign brunch for Jackson at the Local 14 Solidarity Center in Jay, Maine, according to an invitation reviewed by the <a href="https://www.themainewire.com/2026/08/communist-party-usa-writer-co-hosted-campaign-event-for-democratic-senate-nominee-troy-jackson/">Maine Wire</a>. At the time, Jackson was running for governor. He is now the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate and will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November in a race that will help determine control of the Senate.
The invitation described the event as a “Brunch with Troy Jackson” and said the four hosts — Nandrea, Linda Deane, Cynthia Phinney, and Jimmy McHugh — had known Jackson for years and “worked with him on important legislation that we believe makes Maine a better place to live.”
The Communist Party USA’s website maintains an <a href="https://www.cpusa.org/authors/lorri-nandrea/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">author page</a> for Nandrea listing four articles she has written for the organization: “Waking class consciousness today,” “Why fixing capitalism is not enough,” “Killer capitalism vs. green socialism,” and “Unions are more popular: How does this translate into action?” Communist Party USA has also referenced Nandrea as <a href="https://cpusa.org/article/tightening-up-our-club-and-district-organization/">recently as 2025</a>. 
It&#8217;s unclear if Nandrea was a member of Communist Party USA when she co-hosted Jackson’s event.
Jackson became the Democratic nominee on July 25 after Maine Democrats <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-party-bosses-crown-new-nominee-to-replace-graham-platner">selected him</a> to replace Graham Platner, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platner-ends-senate-bid-with-profane-political-message">withdrew from the race</a> following an allegation of sexual assault that he has denied. Jackson, a former Maine Senate president from northern Maine, will now take on Collins in one of the Democrats’ most closely watched Senate challenges.
For Democrats, the episode may feel like déjà vu. Among Platner&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/maine-senate-candidate-graham-platner-socialist-group-linked-to-ice-attack-tesla-bombings">earliest controversies</a> was his past identification with communism and the resurfacing of his involvement with the Socialist Rifle Association. Platner then faced scrutiny over a Nazi tattoo along with other profane past statements.
Jackson had campaigned alongside Platner during the earlier campaign and emerged as the replacement nominee after Platner’s withdrawal. Jackson has now sought to present himself as a working-class alternative to Collins, emphasizing his background as a logger from rural Aroostook County and his decades in Maine Democratic politics.
But as Jackson asks Maine voters to send him to the U.S. Senate, the political network behind his candidacy will inevitably come under greater scrutiny. That leaves Jackson with a straightforward question to answer: What did he know about Nandrea’s political background, and what role, if any, has she played in his campaign beyond the June event?

Maine Democrats Hold Senate Nominating Convention

Communist Party Writer Co-Hosts Campaign Event For Democrat Senate Hopeful

campaigns

Communism

Senate Race

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s path to becoming permanent head of the Justice Department became more difficult on Friday after Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said she would not vote to confirm him. 
Murkowski joins Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in her opposition to Blanche, claiming he would further the politicization of the Justice Department. The Alaska Republican also cited pro-life commitments made by Blanche and now-rescinded plans to create a fund for the victims of government weaponization as reasons to oppose his nomination.
While she said that Blanche comes across as “decent and capable,” and had “numerous constructive meetings” with him, Murkowski said she would “oppose his nomination.” 
“The politicization — even weaponization — of the Department did not start with this administration but has accelerated during it,” she said. “I take issue with the handling of the release of the Epstein files; the sweeping immunity protections granted to the President, his family, and their businesses; the statements that have been made to anti-abortion groups; and the repeated targeting of individuals ranging from former administration staff to sitting U.S. Senators.”
Murkowski added that she was still skeptical that the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund Blanche <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/todd-blanche-makes-move-to-secure-votes-from-two-gop-holdouts?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=10&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Todd+Blanche+Makes+Move+To+Secure+Votes+From+Two+GOP+Holdouts">rescinded</a> on Sunday would stay dead. While that was enough for Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to vote for his nomination to advance from the Senate Judiciary Committee, both Murkowski and Collins said they were not convinced. 
“The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration,” she said. “I hope Mr. Blanche is able to achieve that, if confirmed, but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case.”
With Senator Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) long absence from the Senate amid health issues, Blanche cannot afford to lose any more Republicans. Outgoing Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has met with Blanche this week and is reportedly one of the key votes yet to be decided. It is unknown when a full Senate vote could occur. 
Last weekend, Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117020029291674756">said</a> that if Blanche was not confirmed, he would continue to “push hard to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill, which takes care of those who have been so badly treated by the Crooked Joe Biden (and Obuma!) Administration.”

DOJ Announces Charges Against Top Members Of Mexico Cartel CJNG

Second GOP Senator Comes Out Against Blanche Confirmation

Alaska

bill Cassidy

Department of Justice

Donald Trump

Lisa Murkowski

Mitch McConnell

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) hedged during a Sunday morning interview, brushing off questions about whether or not Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson had been throughly vetted in the wake of former nominee Graham Platner&#8217;s public implosion.
Appearing on NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; Sanders praised Jackson&#8217;s working-class background and progressive platform but emphasized that he had no role in the process that elevated the former Maine Senate president to the nomination after Platner withdrew. &#8220;I was not involved in that process at all,&#8221; Sanders said. &#8220;As you indicated, they had to move very, very quickly, and I think the Maine Democratic Party did the best they could under difficult circumstances.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Bernie Sanders doesn’t know if Maine Democrat Troy Jackson was properly vetted.
NBC: Has Troy Jackson been fully vetted?
SANDERS: I wasn’t involved…
NBC: Will you endorse him?
SANDERS: If he asks me to, I will. <a href="https://t.co/EOtF6QNtad">pic.twitter.com/EOtF6QNtad</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2083921695211929716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
Sanders went on to describe Jackson as &#8220;a fifth-generation logger&#8221; and a champion for working families, highlighting his support for Medicare for All and protecting Social Security.
But when asked whether he would endorse Jackson, Sanders stopped short of offering an unsolicited endorsement. &#8220;If he asks me to, I certainly will,&#8221; Sanders replied. The measured response stands in contrast to Sanders&#8217; vigorous support for Platner, the progressive outsider whose campaign became one of the Democratic Party&#8217;s highest-profile Senate efforts before collapsing under the weight of several scandals
Before rape allegations ultimately forced Platner off the campaign trail, Sanders had repeatedly defended the then-candidate despite mounting controversies surrounding his campaign. When asked Sunday whether he regretted endorsing Platner, Sanders declined to directly answer.
&#8220;There were very serious allegations against Platner,&#8221; Sanders said. &#8220;As a result of those accusations, I and virtually all of his supporters requested that he withdraw from the race, and he did.&#8221;
Pressed again on whether he regretted backing Platner in the first place, Sanders instead argued that hindsight made the question easier to answer. &#8220;Well, you know, it&#8217;s easier to be a Monday morning quarterback,&#8221; Sanders <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2083926150837879124">said</a>. &#8220;Platner ran a very strong campaign &#8230; A woman made very serious allegations against him. He withdrew from the race. Period.&#8221;
When NBC moderator Kristen Welker asked once more if he had any regrets, Sanders did not answer but instead pivoted to broader Democratic politics, arguing that voters are rejecting establishment candidates and increasingly embracing left-wing alternatives. &#8220;The people of this country right now are sick and tired of establishment politics and establishment policies,&#8221; Sanders said. &#8220;They want change, and I and other progressives are going to do everything that we can to bring about those changes.&#8221;
Platner&#8217;s campaign collapsed after a series of controversies culminated in rape allegations, which he denied before withdrawing from the race. His downfall also prompted scrutiny of the progressive consultants who recruited and promoted his candidacy.
According to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/17/platner-is-finished-does-the-same-fate-await-the-out-of-state-consultants-who-recruited-him-01002652">Politico</a>, campaign advisers allegedly declined recommendations for additional opposition research after an initial vetting uncovered problematic online posts and suggested further review. The report detailed broader concerns that warning signs surrounding Platner were overlooked as consultants raced to elevate the political newcomer into one of the Democratic Party&#8217;s most closely watched Senate candidates.
Jackson was selected as the replacement nominee after Platner exited the race, giving Democrats only days to choose a new standard-bearer in one of the nation&#8217;s premier Senate contests. He has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platners-replacement-accused-of-having-kids-with-cousin">since faced scrutiny</a> of his own after a report surfaced that he has two children with his longtime partner, Lana Pelletier, who genealogical records indicate is his second cousin. The relationship is legal under Maine law, and Jackson&#8217;s campaign has not publicly commented on the reporting.
Jackson will now face incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in November as Democrats seek to flip a seat viewed as critical to their hopes of reclaiming the Senate majority.

Graham Platner

Bernie Sanders Can’t Say Whether Dems Vetted Troy Jackson After Platner Implosion

Bernie Sanders

Democratic Party

Media

Politics

U.S.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson has two children with his second cousin — longtime partner Lana Pelletier — according to genealogical records first <a href="https://x.com/SteveRob/status/2082913987633848818">reported</a> by journalist Steve Robinson. 
Jackson, a former Maine Senate president, became the Democrats&#8217; nominee after the party&#8217;s previous candidate, Graham Platner, withdrew from the race amid rape allegations, forcing Democrats to replace their Senate standard-bearer in one of the nation&#8217;s most closely watched contests. Jackson now faces incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in a race viewed as critical to the battle for Senate control.
According to genealogical records, Jackson and Pelletier share the same great-grandparents, Thomas Pelletier and Edith Thibodeau. Their daughter, Albertine Pelletier, was Jackson&#8217;s grandmother, while their son, Louis Pelletier Sr., was Pelletier&#8217;s grandfather, making the couple second cousins. 
Jackson and Pelletier have been together since high school and are the parents — and simultaneously third cousins — of two adult sons.
The relationship is legal under Maine law. While state law prohibits marriages between first cousins without additional statutory requirements, it places no restrictions on second cousins marrying or having children. Genetic experts generally consider second-cousin relationships as presenting no meaningful increase in the risk of inherited disorders compared with the general population.
Throughout his political career, Jackson has generally referred to Pelletier as his &#8220;partner.&#8221; The couple has never legally married, although some older official biographies referred to Pelletier as Jackson&#8217;s wife. 
Jackson has built his political image around his upbringing in the rural St. John Valley, frequently describing himself as a fifth-generation logger from Allagash before rising through organized labor and Democratic politics to become president of the Maine Senate.
The revelation comes as Jackson prepares for a high-profile general election against Collins, one of the Senate&#8217;s most vulnerable Republican incumbents. National Democrats view the race as a key pickup opportunity as they attempt to regain control of the Senate.
Neither Jackson&#8217;s campaign nor Pelletier has publicly addressed the genealogical reporting.

Graham Platner’s Replacement Accused Of Having Kids With Cousin

family

Family Values

Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday refused to endorse Troy Jackson, the last-minute candidate party elites chose to replace accused rapist Graham Platner on the November ballot. 
In an interview with local outlet <a href="https://www.wmtw.com/article/mills-calls-collins-vulnerable-but-stops-short-of-endorsing-troy-jackson/73292374">WMTW</a>, Mills said she has not spoken with Jackson and stopped short of endorsing him, adding that she still wants to see Republican Senator Susan Collins go down in November. 
“We haven’t spoken, but clearly Susan Collins is vulnerable, and she should be — she should be defeated,” Mills said. She did not comment on whether the process her party had used to coronate Jackson as the nominee would alienate voters. 
It&#8217;s unusual for a sitting Democratic governor to withhold an endorsement from her party&#8217;s U.S. Senate nominee. Perhaps the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/maine-democrats-choose-nazi-tatted-graham-platner-in-senate-primary?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=125&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Dems+Pick+Nazi-Tatted+Graham+Platner+Even+After+%E2%80%98Predator%E2%80%99s+Paradise%E2%80%99+Photos+Surface">lingering resentment</a> stems from Mills spending months crisscrossing Maine, warning party activists and voters that Platner&#8217;s baggage would be too heavy to carry — even in a blue-leaning state. Voters, along with much of the Democratic establishment, ignored her warnings. 
The Democratic establishment viewed Mills, who was recruited and backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), as the strongest candidate to defeat Collins. However, Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) had different plans. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platner-was-really-lefts-2nd-choice-for-maine-senate-option-1-had-a-big-skeleton?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Graham+Platner+Was+Really+Left%E2%80%99s+2nd+Choice+For+Maine+Senate+%E2%80%94+Option+1+Had+A+Big+%E2%80%98Skeleton%E2%80%99">The Daily Wire previously reported</a> that leftists turned to the embattled Platner after their initial choice was found to have a major “skeleton” in his closet. In July 2025, two Bernie Sanders-aligned political operatives hunted for a Democrat to challenge Collins, ultimately landing on and recruiting Platner. The oyster farmer launched his campaign a month later <a href="https://x.com/grahamformaine/status/1957780836062826868?s=20">with a viral video</a> that quickly attracted national attention from leftist activists and Democratic donors. 
Trying to stop his momentum, Mills went on the attack against Platner in commercials, highlighting his scandals and running with the tagline, &#8220;<a href="https://x.com/AdImpact_Pol/status/2033915569401958580?s=20">Graham Platner: The closer you look, the worse it gets</a>.&#8221; One advertisement in particular featured older women expressing disgust. 
Ultimately, her strategy failed to gain traction with an increasingly restless base eager to buck their party’s establishment. On April 30, Mills suspended her campaign. 
“While I have the drive and passion, commitment and experience, and above all else — the fight — to continue on, I very simply do not have the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources,” <a href="https://x.com/JanetMillsforME/status/2049832653189152925?s=20">Mills said in a statement</a>. 
Now that Platner is off the ballot, Democrats face a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/likely-platner-replacement-used-to-be-normal-before-the-activists-got-to-him?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=27&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Likely+Platner+Replacement+Used+To+Be+Normal%2C+Before+The+Activists+Got+To+Him">new challenge</a>: rallying their base behind a nominee who previously opposed abortion and same-sex marriage and is known for a history of public outbursts.
Republicans hope to use Jackson&#8217;s conservative past and his new leftward platform as a wedge issue, arguing the shift will alienate voters across the political spectrum and help propel Collins to victory in November.
“He’s a Bernie Bro,” Collins <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/2080406319870230991?s=20">told</a> reporters in the halls of the U.S. Senate. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Susan Collins on Troy Jackson: “He’s a Bernie Bro.” <a href="https://t.co/qzt63Y3phE">pic.twitter.com/qzt63Y3phE</a>
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/2080406319870230991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2026</a></blockquote>

President Trump Meets With Governors At The White House

Maine Democratic Governor Refuses To Endorse Platner Replacement

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Midterms

News

Republicans

Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has no regrets about aggressively campaigning for Graham Platner, who later dropped out of Maine&#8217;s U.S. Senate race following explosive rape allegations.
CBS anchor Margaret Brennan pressed Sanders over his support for Platner, whose failed candidacy upended the Democratic establishment and sent the party scrambling to find a new nominee just months before the November election.
“You were an early supporter in Maine of Graham Platner. You helped him rise. Do you regret not acting earlier to call for him to drop out, given the warning signs?” Brennan asked.
In a defiant reply, Sanders said: “No, I don&#8217;t think so. When we heard the serious allegations made against him, I wanted to get on the phone. I wanted to talk to him. I did. I asked, along with virtually all his supporters, that he should get out of the race, and he did.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
CBS: “You were an early supporter in Maine of Graham Platner, you helped him rise. Do you regret not acting earlier…given the warning signs?”
BERNIE SANDERS: “No, I don’t think so.” <a href="https://t.co/oImvb4luHc">pic.twitter.com/oImvb4luHc</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2081396620545921295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platner-was-really-lefts-2nd-choice-for-maine-senate-option-1-had-a-big-skeleton?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Graham+Platner+Was+Really+Left%E2%80%99s+2nd+Choice+For+Maine+Senate+%E2%80%94+Option+1+Had+A+Big+%E2%80%98Skeleton%E2%80%99">The Daily Wire previously reported</a> that leftists hand-picked Platner after their initial choice was found to have a major “skeleton” in his closet. Last July, two Bernie Sanders-aligned political operatives hunted for a Democrat to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins, ultimately landing on and recruiting Platner. After a meteoric rise, Platner suspended his Senate campaign on July 8 after Democrats mounted a pressure campaign to force him out of the race following rape and sexual harassment allegations that he denies.
Over the weekend, Maine Democrats <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-party-bosses-crown-new-nominee-to-replace-graham-platner?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Democrat+Party+Bosses+Crown+New+Nominee+To+Replace+Graham+Platner">hand-selected a new nominee</a> to replace the disgraced oyster farmer: Troy Jackson.
The party announced the decision on Saturday, saying that Jackson had been “formally” selected by the Maine Democratic State Committee — meaning that not a single Maine Democrat had cast a vote for him to be their nominee in that race.
Maine Democrats’ Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson praised the move, claiming that it was just one more example of “democracy” working exactly as it should.
“Democracy, while sometimes really messy, is always, always worth fighting for … doing what is right is what us Maine Democrats will choose every damn time,” she said.
Kristen Cianci, the Republican Party&#8217;s New England communications director, blasted the move on X, drawing comparisons to Kamala Harris&#8217; coronation as the Democrats&#8217; 2024 presidential nominee.
“History is repeating itself in Maine. Troy Jackson will be crowned by @MaineDems this weekend without a single vote being cast. Just like Kamala, voters will reject him when they finally get their say in November,” she said.

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Bernie Sanders Doesn’t Regret Supporting Accused Rapist Graham Platner

In a move that bore striking similarities to the 2024 emergency coronation of former Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrat Party bosses in Maine hand-selected a new nominee to replace disgraced former U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner: Troy Jackson.
The party announced the decision on Saturday, saying that Jackson had been &#8220;formally&#8221; selected by the Maine Democratic State Committee — meaning that not a single Maine Democrat had cast a vote for him to be their nominee in that race.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Maine Democrats officially handpick socialist Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner.
&#8220;The Maine Democratic State Committee formally selects Troy Jackson as the replacement nominee for&#8230;U.S. Senate.&#8221;
Troy Jackson received zero votes from Mainers. <a href="https://t.co/x7ddUTQT8V">pic.twitter.com/x7ddUTQT8V</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2081044514672689368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;The Maine Democratic State Committee formally selects Troy Jackson as the replacement nominee for the Maine Democratic Party&#8217;s candidate for U.S. Senate n the 2026 general election ballot.&#8221;
Maine Democrats&#8217; Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson praised the move, claiming that it was just one more example of &#8220;democracy&#8221; working exactly as it should.
&#8220;Democracy, while sometimes really messy, is always, always worth fighting for…doing what is right is what us Maine Democrats will choose every damn time,&#8221; she said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Maine Democrats’ Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson: “Democracy, while sometimes really messy, is always, always worth fighting for…doing what is right is what us Maine Democrats will choose every damn time.”
Not a single Mainer voted for Graham Platner’s replacement. <a href="https://t.co/jgAoNJQcGG">pic.twitter.com/jgAoNJQcGG</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2081041462746026306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
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A number of critics pointed out the similarities between Jackson&#8217;s rapid ascent and the vote-free installation of Harris as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, arguing that the party with an often-stated goal of &#8220;saving democracy&#8221; had very little interest in putting it into practice.
The Republican Party&#8217;s New England communications director Kristen Cianci called them out on X, sharing a post from Thursday marking two years from the day from that Harris had been gifted the presidential nomination.
&#8220;History is repeating itself in Maine. Troy Jackson will be crowned by @MaineDems this weekend without a single vote being cast. Just like Kamala, voters will reject him when they finally get their say in November,&#8221; she said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
History is repeating itself in Maine.
Troy Jackson will be crowned by <a href="https://x.com/MaineDems?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaineDems</a> this weekend without a single vote being cast.
Just like Kamala, voters will reject him when they finally get their say in November. <a href="https://t.co/HcSEHJja12">https://t.co/HcSEHJja12</a>
— Kristen Cianci (@kristencianci) <a href="https://x.com/kristencianci/status/2080425105046282380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Others, like the National Democratic Senatorial Committee, argued that Jackson offered little to no substantive difference compared to Platner.
&#8220;No tattoo. Same crazy,&#8221; the NRSC posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
No tattoo, same crazy. <a href="https://t.co/jfgTxXUNO7">pic.twitter.com/jfgTxXUNO7</a>
— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) <a href="https://x.com/NRSC/status/2081045608316436705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Democrat Party Bosses Crown New Nominee To Replace Graham Platner

Kamala Harris

Troy Jackson, the Maine Democrat who appears poised to replace accused rapist Graham Platner as the Democrats&#8217; U.S. Senate nominee, used to be a staunch social conservative, a record Republicans could exploit to divide the party&#8217;s left-wing base.
Jackson, a logger and former president of the Maine State Senate, is the overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination. Over the weekend, he secured the backing of hundreds of delegates pledged to support him at the party&#8217;s upcoming state convention, while two other top contenders, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah, dropped out of the race.
Platner, who decisively won the Democratic primary, dropped out following an explosive rape allegation that surfaced against him, which he has denied.
Jackson&#8217;s ascent, however, does not come without real risks for a candidate who remains largely unvetted and untested on the national political stage. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/us/politics/troy-jackson-maine-senate.html?unlocked_article_code=1.zVA.SiBi.ysg7LTNX8Jxr&amp;amp;smid=url-share">A New York Times report </a>dove into Jackson&#8217;s political record, which includes conservative positions on issues ranging from abortion and same-sex marriage — stances he is now working overtime to scrub from the minds of leftist Maine Democrats.
Before earning a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood, Jackson received a perfect rating from the pro-life group Maine Right to Life, according to the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130515043228/https://www.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/36809/troy-jackson#.U3TNuYFdXYS#.U3TNuYFdXYS">nonpartisan Project Vote Smart.</a>
Now, he’s trying to walk that record back, telling the New York Times: “I’ve made mistakes early on in understanding” around the issue of abortion. “Regardless of this U.S. Senate race, I’m really, really proud of how I’ve turned that around and, you know, done the right thing. I mean, I was wrong.”
“I was always conflicted,” Jackson, who grew up Catholic, told the outlet. “I had a hard time getting to a place I felt comfortable. But as time went on, I had a lot of conversations with people.”
In 2022, he <a href="https://www.mainesenate.org/president-jackson-senate-majority-leaders-vitelli-and-daughtry-react-to-supreme-court-opinion-overturning-roe-v-wade/">condemned</a> the overturning of Roe v. Wade but admitted to a <a href="https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2022-10-24/maines-senate-president-battles-for-his-job-and-potentially-democratic-control-of-the-chamber">local Maine news outlet</a> that he struggled to embrace abortion. Jackson has since introduced and helped enact some of the most <a href="https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-signs-legislation-empowering-women-doctors-make-reproductive-health-care">extreme pro-abortion legislation</a> in the country, which allows, at a doctor’s discretion, abortion at any stage of pregnancy. 
Jackson is also under fire for voting against a bill in 2009 that would have legalized same-sex marriage in Maine. He’s walking back that position, too, telling the Times it was his “worst vote ever.”
Jackson first ran for the Maine House of Representatives as a Republican in 2000 but lost. Two years later, he won the seat as an independent, defeating an incumbent Democrat. He sought re-election as a Democrat in 2004 and won. Then, he was elected to the Maine Senate in 2008 and served until 2024, except for a two-year hiatus following a failed U.S. House campaign. 
During that tenure, the self-described populist has shown a tendency to lose his temper and burst out in public settings. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/20/democrat-set-replace-platner-maine-led-state-senate-with-temper/">A Washington Post</a> story published Monday revealed that Jackson once hurled a water bottle in a meeting after failing to persuade a colleague to vote his way.
In another incident, Jackson is said to have screamed at another lawmaker, who then took to social media to complain that straight men were “too emotional” to work in politics, according to the Post. 
Responding to the report, BJ McCollister, a campaign adviser, admitted that the Senate hopeful has had “moments when he let his frustration get the better of him.”
“Troy regrets the moments when disagreements became too heated,” McCollister told the Post, “but passion for the issues he advocates for should not be confused with physical intimidation or bullying.”
If officially nominated, Jackson, who has vowed to carry on Platner&#8217;s agenda, will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the general election.

Senator Bernie Sanders Holds Fighting Oligarchy Event With Senate Candidate Graham Platner

Likely Platner Replacement Used To Be Normal, Before The Activists Got To Him

Elections

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin won&#8217;t say whether he briefed President Donald Trump before briefly pausing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) traffic stops in the wake of two recent fatal shootings.
During a Friday briefing on the department&#8217;s efforts to clean up the voter rolls of noncitizens, Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan asked Mullin to clarify if he informed Trump before suspending ICE traffic stops.
&#8220;The president and I are very close. I was texting with him this morning,&#8221; Mullin said. &#8220;There&#8217;s no daylight between us and the enforcement. In fact, we have ramped up our enforcement in our arresting illegals.&#8221;
Mullin then redirected the conversation to arrest and deportation data.
&#8220;Our arrests are up, we&#8217;re hitting single-day records every single day, but what we’ve done is I’ve turned down the temperature of the stove to try to get it correct without boiling over,&#8221; he said.
The decision to pause vehicle stops followed two recent fatal shootings of migrants by ICE officers trying to pull over vehicles in Houston and Biddeford, Maine. In the Houston case, ICE said Mexican illegal immigrant Lorenzo Salgado Araujo &#8220;attempted to evade arrest&#8221; and &#8220;rammed&#8221; an ICE vehicle before he &#8220;weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defense.&#8221;
In the Biddeford shooting, which occurred last week, an ICE officer fatally shot a Colombian man who “attempted to flee the scene” of a traffic stop, the agency said.
The morning after vehicle stops were paused, Trump posted on Truth Social that he opposed the change and viewed it as capitulating to criminals and anti-ICE Democrats.
“The Open Border Policy of Sleepy Joe Biden allowed 25,000,000 people to pour into our Country, unchecked and unvetted,” the president said. “Many were Criminals, and we have to get them out. In order to do this, we must be strong, tough, and smart, and we CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP! Once we do, we are playing right into the criminal’s hands.”
“The Radical Left Dumocrats would like to see this done, but it won’t happen on my watch. I.C.E., be judicious, fair and smart, and go back and do your very important job,” he said. “Keep those Crime Stat Records coming! Remember, you are loved and respected in America.”
ICE sources also questioned whether Mullin informed Trump before enacting the pause.
“Not sure how they don’t consult Trump about this before they send out guidance to every field office,” one agency source said.
White House border czar Tom Homan on Tuesday credited Mullin with deciding to cease the tactic, emphasizing that it was a &#8220;temporary&#8221; measure, not &#8220;a policy change.&#8221;
ICE officers across the country received orders to resume vehicle stops on Thursday, with some new changes, including a requirement that at least one agent on the team have a body camera, sources said. There is concern within ICE that not all officers have received body cameras, making it impossible to resume traffic stops in some parts of the country.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the concerns during her Thursday briefing, saying all ICE body cameras will be distributed within the next 60 days.
“It’s been a slower rollout than we would have hoped, but that’s because [of] the Democrats’ decision to shut down DHS for several weeks. So, we expect to fully execute on the promise of body cams to all field offices across the country very soon,” she said.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin Discuses Trump Administration’s Efforts To Secure Elections

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