Former Obama advisor tells divided Maine Democrats to 'get over your s---' and win the race
Maine Democrats Urged to Move Past Internal Divisions as Senate Race Races Toward Election Day
Maine Democrats have been battling a wave of internal discord as the state’s U.S. Senate race heads into a decisive showdown against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. The turmoil began when the party’s initial nominee, state representative Graham Platner, withdrew amid sexual‑assault allegations, only to be replaced by former state senator Troy Jackson, who himself has faced controversy over resurfaced assault reports.
In a bid to rally voters, former President Barack Obama released an endorsement video on Monday urging Maine residents not to skip the election. Behind the clip, former Obama strategists and advisers are sounding the alarm that the race could be jeopardized by Democratic infighting.
“Everyone get over your s-,” said Dan Pfeiffer, a former Obama strategist who sits on the panel of the “Pod Save America” radio show. “Let’s try to win this race.” Pfeiffer explained that a sizable number of Maine voters—including some Democrats—dislike Jackson, citing the way the replacement process unfolded and the absence of endorsements from key figures. “I think there is some sense or fear, maybe, that some of the people who are not enthusiastic about Jackson for some reason because of how this process played out may sit out and so just like ‘get in here, get in the fight,’” he added.
Jon Favreau, a former Obama speechwriter who also co‑hosts the show, echoed the concern. “That’s my biggest worry,” Favreau said. He highlighted the “significant number of people in Maine who seem not to like Troy Jackson, including some Democrats,” and stressed that the party must unite to prevent voter apathy.
The division, Pfeiffer said, stems from several factions. Some supporters of the ousted Platner feel hurt that their preferred candidate was removed, while others backed a different contender, Tim Mills, who has not endorsed Jackson. “Mills had not endorsed Jackson and Jackson had not asked for the endorsement,” Pfeiffer noted. He cautioned that such unresolved tensions could cost the party votes.
Favreau drew a parallel to Michigan’s recent primary battles, noting how the state’s Democrats eventually coalesced after a contentious process. “I would say to all the Maine Democrats out there, I know it’s been a rough one, but look to Michigan,” he said. He added that Jackson could benefit from broader Democratic support, citing a New York Times poll that showed Collins ahead but also revealed that most voters want a Democratic Senate seat.
“The New York Times poll that showed Collins ahead, you had people—most people—wanting a Democratic Senate,” Favreau said. “So, like, I feel like the Democrats there just have to be reminded that, like, this is our guy, and this is our ticket to a Democratic Senate and not a Republican Senate.”
In addition to the party’s internal dynamics, the campaign has attracted commentary from outside observers. Julian Epstein, a Democratic strategist, criticized what he described as “socialist revolutionaries” and the party’s tendency toward centralized economic control. Meanwhile, Jesse Arm, vice‑president of external affairs at the Manhattan Institute, remarked that former Obama allies are “just struggling to cope” as they try to counter the “overperformance” of a moderate Republican incumbent who has long been respected in the state.
The race remains one of the most closely watched in the country this cycle. With the election date set for November, Democrats face the dual challenge of overcoming internal rifts while mobilizing a potentially energized electorate that has shown a clear preference for a Democratic Senate seat. Whether they can convert that desire into votes will be decided at the polls, where the state’s political future hangs in the balance.