ME-SEN: Immigration dominates first Maine U.S. Senate debate days after fatal shooting

All of the candidates vying for Maine’s Democratic U.S. Senate nomination called to eliminate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during their first debate Thursday night, three days after ICE shot and killed a 25-year-old in Biddeford.

Given that abolishing the agency is unlikely to happen during President Donald Trump’s administration, the candidates were pressed by moderators on what reforms they’d push for, and, again, there was largely uniformity in calling for requiring body cameras, banning masks and stripping agents of immunity.

The debate, hosted by News Center Maine, underscored that many of the candidates align on policy, including supporting Medicare for all and ending U.S. involvement in foreign wars.

Graham Platner, who had secured the Democratic nomination on June 9, dropped out of the race a week ago after his support from the party tanked following an accusation of sexual assault, which he has denied. His exit restarted the race for long-time Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’s seat, which Democrats consider pivotal to winning back the U.S. Senate majority.


https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/07/16/immigration-dominates-first-maine-u-s-senate-debate-days-after-fatal-shooting/