Welcome to the final episode of the first season of Politics Between Us.

Today, we’re joined by one of the most talked-about political candidates in the country: Graham Platner, who is running for U.S. Senate in our home state of Maine.

We get into the contradictions people keep trying to pin on him — and why he thinks those questions say more about the limits of our political imagination than they do about him.

We also dig into what “political revolution” actually means to him, why his anger comes from love, and what it has felt like to discover that simply being a genuine person in politics is somehow shocking to the people who cover it.

Finally, we have an honest conversation about gender: Betsy Sweet ran for U.S. Senate in Maine on nearly identical politics and got called a witch, while Platner became a national phenomenon. And we even talk about Governor Janet Mills — but you’ll have to listen to hear that yourself.

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Background Reading

Politics Between Us Substack

Maybe the Witch Was Right: Betsy Sweet on Love & Politics in the Maine Senate Race

I’ve Got Your Back Politics (Luca DeAngelis)

Graham Platner’s Bet on Horizontal Power

Time Magazine Cover

Politics Between Us is created by Alison Beyea and Luca DeAngelis. Produced by Steven Jackson. Research by Jeff Sanders.

This Substack is a personal project. Alison and Luca are both employees of Colby College, but the views and opinions expressed here are entirely our own and do not represent those of Colby College or any other institutions with which we are affiliated. This publication is not produced, sponsored, or endorsed by the College.

Keywords: Graham Platner, Susan Collins, Maine Senate race, 2026 Senate primary, Janet Mills, Marine Corps, populism, political revolution, gender and elections, authenticity in politics, community organizing, labor movement, civil rights, women’s suffrage, Maine politics, campaign finance reform, Betsy Sweet, Bernie Sanders.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit politicsbetweenus.substack.com