Possible Platner Replacement Rips Maine Democrat Party’s ‘Harsh, Secretive’ Executive Director

A leading voice among Democrats of Maine blasted the party’s top manager for producing a video targeting Graham Platner for their political mess.

Valli Geiger, a state rep from Rockland, is also denying that the party’s voter choice for U.S. Senate who withdrew from the nomination Wednesday after being accused of rape handpicked her as his replacement.

“Let me first say that many members of the press are reporting that I am Graham Platner’s preferred candidate,” Geiger posted on her Facebook page. “This is not true. I am one of several people who have supported Graham’s platform, that Graham is talking with.”

After getting done denying she is Platner’s choice, Geiger aimed her fire at Devon Murphy-Anderson, executive director of the state party.

“The unfortunate video put out by the executive director was harsh, secretive and just fed people’s distrust, angst, and worry that this has been the plan all along,” Geiger said, “to force him from the race and replace him with an economic centrist and supporter of national democratic leadership.”

“I am in conversation with some trustworthy Democratic leaders of our party,” she added. “They too are outraged by the video, by being closed out of discussions and are working to force the party leadership to reveal the plan publicly so that people can be assured the process will be fair.”

Geiger said with Platner’s withdrawing from the race, the state party needs to assure voters finding his successor will be a transparent selection.

“Unfortunately, the process has not been clear or transparent thus far,” she charged. “Not to the public, not to the chairs and vice chairs of the county committees, not to the Platner campaign and not to the other elected Democratic leaders.”