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Social media erupted on Thursday night during a Maine Senate debate to determine who will replace former Democratic nominee Graham Platner after one of the candidates highlighted being a songwriter as a qualification for Senate.
“I ran for office several times, didn’t win, but I did run and then, I’m a songwriter and then I write my own books,” Senate candidate Ashley Webb said on the debate stage when asked, “What qualifications do you have to serve in the U.S. Senate?”
Webb, who is transgender, continued, “I suppose my transparency, I wouldn’t lie to people and I wouldn’t deceive the people, like, we’re being deceived right now, like we get lied to, smoke and mirrors, like what’s going on with ICE.”
The moment went viral on social media, with many conservatives mocking Webb’s list of qualifications.
MEET THE DEMOCRATS GUNNING TO REPLACE GRAHAM PLATNER IN A CRUCIAL SENATE SHOWDOWN
U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Webb takes part in a debate at the WCSH-6 television studio, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
“Surely you can’t be serious… ,” conservative commentator Dave Rubin posted on X.
“I think Susan Collins is going to win,” Manhattan Institute Vice President of External Affairs Jesse Arm posted on X.
“You cannot and will not convince me that this is real,” author 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 prepare for a televised debate at the WCSH-6 studio, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
“To be fair, that’s more relevant experience than Platner,” Washington Examiner senior writer David Harsanyi posted on X.
“Checking in on the Maine Democrat Senate debate to replace Graham Platner,” GOP strategist Matt Whitlock posted on X.
” WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN MAINE???!!!” Citizens Alliance CEO Cliff Maloney posted on X.
“The new Maine US Senate primary for Democrats is a total CLOWN CAR! ” Florida political reporter Eric Daugherty posted on X.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Webb campaign for comment.
Webb was one of eight candidates on the debate stage over a two-hour period on Thursday night along with Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah, former congressional staffer Jordan Wood, former state lawmaker Lizzie Dickerson, Maine Beer Co. co-founder Dan Kleban, and former government official David Costello.
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Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, holds a blanket as she walks off the Senate floor after the Senate stayed in session throughout the night at the U.S. Capitol Building on July 1, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Whichever Democrat is crowned at a Maine Democratic Party convention on July 25, will face off in the midterm elections against longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins in a high-stakes race that is among roughly a dozen that will determine if Republicans hold their slim Senate majority. A dozen Democrats, who filed with the state party by Wednesday’s deadline, are aiming to get on the ballot in the sprint to replace Platner.
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
