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Social media erupted on Thursday night time throughout a Maine Senate debate to find out who will change former Democratic nominee Graham Platner after one of many candidates highlighted being a songwriter as a qualification for Senate.
“I ran for workplace a number of instances, did not win, however I did run after which, I am a songwriter after which I write my very own books,” Senate candidate Ashley Webb stated on the talk stage when requested, “What {qualifications} do it’s important to serve within the U.S. Senate?”
Webb, who’s transgender, continued, “I suppose my transparency, I would not misinform individuals and I would not deceive the individuals, like, we’re being deceived proper now, like we get lied to, smoke and mirrors, like what is going on on with ICE.”
The second went viral on social media, with many conservatives mocking Webb’s listing of {qualifications}.
MEET THE DEMOCRATS GUNNING TO REPLACE GRAHAM PLATNER IN A CRUCIAL SENATE SHOWDOWN
U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Webb takes half in a debate on the WCSH-6 tv studio, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Picture/Robert F. Bukaty)
“Certainly you may’t be critical… ,” conservative commentator Dave Rubin posted on X.
“I feel Susan Collins goes to win,” Manhattan Institute Vice President of Exterior Affairs Jesse Arm posted on X.
“You can not and won’t persuade me that that is actual,” writer and political commentator Bethany Mandel posted on X.
MAINE DEMOCRATS RECYCLE PLATNER’S FAR-LEFT TALKING POINTS IN SCRAMBLE TO REPLACE DISGRACED EX-NOMINEE
From left, U.S. Senate candidates David Costello, Elizabeth Dickerson, Dan Kleban, and Ashley Webb put together for a televised debate on the WCSH-6 studio, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Picture/Robert F. Bukaty)
“To be truthful, that is extra related expertise than Platner,” Washington Examiner senior author David Harsanyi posted on X.
“Checking in on the Maine Democrat Senate debate to switch Graham Platner,” GOP strategist Matt Whitlock posted on X.
” WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN MAINE???!!!” Residents Alliance CEO Cliff Maloney posted on X.
“The brand new Maine US Senate main for Democrats is a complete CLOWN CAR! ” Florida political reporter Eric Daugherty posted on X.
Fox Information Digital reached out to the Webb marketing campaign for remark.
Webb was considered one of eight candidates on the talk stage over a two-hour interval on Thursday night time together with Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah, former congressional staffer Jordan Wooden, former state lawmaker Lizzie Dickerson, Maine Beer Co. co-founder Dan Kleban, and former authorities official David Costello.
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Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, holds a blanket as she walks off the Senate flooring after the Senate stayed in session all through the night time on the U.S. Capitol Constructing on July 1, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs)
Whichever Democrat is topped at a Maine Democratic Get together conference on July 25, will face off within the midterm elections in opposition to longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins in a high-stakes race that’s amongst roughly a dozen that may decide if Republicans maintain their slim Senate majority. A dozen Democrats, who filed with the state celebration by Wednesday’s deadline, are aiming to get on the poll within the dash to switch Platner.
Fox Information Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
