Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) on Wednesday celebrated the suspension of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner's (D) campaign, declaring that “the trash took itself out.” The sharp rebuke came after Platner ended his bid for the seat held by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), following sexual assault allegations from a former girlfriend.
Platner announced his decision in a video online, just two days after his ex-girlfriend detailed the alleged assault in interviews with Politico and CNN. Fetterman, speaking on Fox News’s “Jesse Watters Primetime,” did not hold back. “The trash took itself out tonight. And now, finally, people in Maine have a chance to really vote on someone that’s not a total piece of trash,” he said.
Fetterman's Unfiltered Critique
The Pennsylvania Democrat went further, predicting Platner would “go back online” and “straight back into oblivion,” a clear jab at the candidate’s controversial Reddit posts that had already stirred backlash. “Like, he’s been a dead man walking, so it’s a good day,” Fetterman added.
In a personal attack on Platner, Fetterman said, “I would say to him, ‘P Hustle, P Hustle, bro. You will only be remembered as the accused rapist, the guy pushed out of your election. That’s your legacy, bro, and you are a guy that cheats on your wife. You’re the guy that roughs up your ex-girlfriends. You know, that’s your legacy, bro. Go back to that rock that you came from.’”
Democrats Under Fire
Fetterman also turned his fire on fellow Democrats, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who had endorsed Platner. He demanded apologies from those who boosted Platner’s candidacy. “More than anyone, he pushed P Hustle into the election, and now, you know, he keeps pushing these communists and these kind of awful anti-American people,” Fetterman said. “So, there’s plenty of those people that have to humble themselves, you know, humble yourself and stop pushing this kind of people on people in my party.”
The episode has exposed deep internal strife within the Maine Democratic Party as it scrambles to find a replacement before the July 27 deadline. Platner, in his suspension video, insisted the move was not an admission of guilt, but called for an “open, transparent, and democratic” process to choose his successor.
Race to Replace Platner
Several candidates have already stepped forward, including former state Sen. Troy Jackson, former acting CDC Director Nirav Shah, and former congressional candidate Jordan Wood. The contest to challenge Collins, a four-term Republican, is now wide open, with Troy Jackson entering the race after Platner's scandal-driven exit.
The allegations have also cost Platner support from key allies. Three veterans groups withdrew their endorsements following the accusations, further eroding his campaign's viability. Fetterman’s blunt comments underscore the broader fallout, as Democrats seek to distance themselves from the scandal and regroup for a competitive general election against Collins.
