Graham Platner's suspension of his Senate campaign on Wednesday night marks a significant setback for progressives, but also offers a critical opportunity for reflection. Osita Nwanevu, a Guardian US columnist, argues that the Platner disaster underscores the need for the left to adopt more disciplined and strategic approaches to electoral politics, moving away from reliance on charisma and viral appeal.
The Rise and Fall of Graham Platner
Platner, a veteran, harbormaster, and chair of a local planning board in Maine, was recruited by national progressive operatives last summer after they saw footage of him speaking against a salmon farm. Despite a rushed vetting process without a full research book, he was introduced to voters with a viral ad featuring him boating and chopping wood, and soon earned endorsements from Bernie Sanders and raised over $3 million. However, his campaign was plagued by scandals, including a Nazi tattoo, comments about enjoying combat in Iraq, and a rape accusation that ultimately ended his bid.
Contrast with Zohran Mamdani's Strategic Success
In contrast, Nwanevu highlights the strategic approach of New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who devoted significant time and resources to backing winners in three Democratic primaries. Mamdani's careful calculus and support for candidates like Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez resulted in electoral victories, demonstrating the effectiveness of intentional candidate selection.
Flawed Logic of Candidate Relatability
Many progressives believed Platner's buff, gruff, and tattooed image would resonate with working-class men, a demographic Democrats have struggled with. However, Nwanevu argues this logic is flawed, pointing out that Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, despite being elite figures, have built broad coalitions. He notes that Platner trailed by 15-20 points among voters without college degrees, including 25 points behind among white men without degrees, according to recent polls.
Lessons for the Progressive Movement
Nwanevu warns against the 'lightning in a bottle' approach to electoral politics, which relies on outsider candidates with the right message and personality. Instead, he advocates for building power 'brick by carefully laid brick,' emphasizing discipline, circumspection, and thorough vetting. The Platner campaign, he concludes, was an unforced error that establishment figures will exploit to discredit the left.
Nwanevu also criticizes the defensive rhetoric from Platner's boosters, such as strategist Dan Moraff, who compared Platner to Barack Obama, and journalist Ken Klippenstein, who mocked the idea of nominating an 'asexual, Harvard-educated McKinsey consultant.' These comments, Nwanevu argues, reveal a misguided belief that personal flaws are strengths.
Conclusion: A Path Forward
While voters are willing to overlook personal mistakes, there are limits, and the Platner campaign found them. Progressives must learn from this disaster to ensure future candidates are not chosen on vibes alone but through rigorous strategic planning. Only then can the left build durable electoral power.
