Transgender Candidate’s Debate Remarks in Maine Senate Race
A transgender Democratic candidate, Ashley Webb, is running to replace Maine’s Graham Platner in the U.S. Senate. During a recent debate, Webb expressed that she “didn’t want to hurt anyone” and simply “needed to go to the bathroom.” She conveyed concerns about the dehumanization of the trans community, stating, “They say we want to hurt people. I don’t want to hurt anyone, I just want to go to the bathroom. If they want me to use the men’s room, I will, but I don’t want to be assaulted.”
Webb is among several candidates vying for Platner’s seat, following his withdrawal from the race on July 10 amid various controversies. Reports indicated that Platner faced long-standing allegations, including troubling incidents that many in the Democratic Party appeared to overlook, despite the serious nature of the accusations.
The Maine Democratic Party is now working to find a replacement for Platner as the midterm elections approach. According to her profile on the Maine Democratic Party site, Webb said, “As an openly transgender and intersex woman, I know what it means to be told to wait, be quiet, and let someone else speak for me. Nobody should have to fight this hard just to be heard by the people who represent them, whether they’re rural or urban, Democrat or Republican or undocumented.”
During the debate, when asked about her qualifications for the Senate, Webb mentioned her prior attempts at running for office, her work as a songwriter, and her authorship. Although she acknowledged her lack of winning those races, she emphasized the importance of transparency in her campaign, stating, “I don’t lie to the people and I’m not going to deceive them the way we’re being deceived right now.”
When a moderator inquired if she supported “Medicare for All,” Webb noted, “I actually do enroll in Medicare.” On her website, she identified herself as a transgender and intersex woman from Farmington, Maine, highlighting her journey as a published author and independent musician, while also sharing her experience of running her own campaign without major donors or backing.
