Maine Senate candidate Ashley Webb goes viral for songwriter claim
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During Thursday night’s debate in the Maine Senate to determine who would replace former Democratic candidate Graham Platner, social media exploded after one of the candidates highlighted being a speechwriter as a qualification for the Senate.
Senate candidate Ashley Webb asked during the debate stage “What qualifications do you need to serve in the U.S. Senate?” “I was nominated a few times, I didn’t win, but I competed and then I’m a songwriter and then I write my own books,” he said.
Webb, who is transgender, continued: “I think in my transparency, I wouldn’t lie to people and I wouldn’t deceive people, like right now we’re being deceived, like we’re being 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 PURCHASING TO REPLACE GRAHAM PLATNER IN A KEY SENATE BATTLE
U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Webb participates in a debate at the WCSH-6 television studio on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Conservative commentator Dave Rubin said, “Surely you can’t be serious…” Published on X
Manhattan Institute Vice President for External Affairs Jesse Arm: “I think Susan Collins will win” Published on X
“You can’t and won’t convince me that this is real,” said author and political commentator Bethany Mandel. Published on X
MAINE DEMOCRATS ARE RECYCLING PLATNER’S FAR LEFT TALKING POINTS TO REPLACE DISGRACED FORMER CANDIDATE
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 on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
“To be fair, this is a more meaningful experience than Platner,” said Washington Examiner senior writer David Harsanyi Published on X
GOP strategist Matt Whitlock: “I’m controlling the Maine Democratic Senate debate to replace Graham Platner.” Published on X
“WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MAINE???!!!” Citizens Alliance CEO Cliff Maloney Published on X
“For Democrats, the new Maine U.S. Senate primaries are a CLOWN CAR!” Florida political reporter Eric Daugherty Published on X
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Webb campaign for comment.
Webb appeared on the debate stage over a two-hour period Thursday night 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. He was one of eight candidates, along with co-founder Dan Kleban and former government official David Costello.
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Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, holds a blanket as she leaves the Senate chamber after the Senate remained in session overnight at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2025 (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Whichever Democrat is crowned at the Maine Democratic convention on July 25 will face off against longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins in the midterm elections in a high-stakes race among about a dozen that will determine whether Republicans retain their slim Senate majority. A dozen Democrats who filed with the state party by Wednesday aim to get on the ballot in the sprint to replace Platner.
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
