Bhaskar Sunkara

Argues that Graham Platner’s exit from the Maine Senate race should not be taken as proof that political outsiders are unfit for office, noting that establishment vetting has failed to prevent serious misconduct among traditional politicians. Highlights how structural barriers favor wealthy, well‑connected candidates and contribute to the underrepresentation of working‑class people despite voter preference for them. Cites historical and contemporary examples of working‑class political leadership and calls for systematic recruitment of such candidates through class-rooted organizations to counterbalance elite dominance in the Democratic party.