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Jon Stewart says Democratic leadership and DNC are ‘lost’

by Ashleigh Fields - 04/30/26 2:46 PM ET

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by Ashleigh Fields - 04/30/26 2:46 PM ET

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Comedian Jon Stewart on Wednesday said the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the party’s leaders were “lost” while discussing the Maine Senate campaign.

Stewart was interviewing Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who said he had not been contacted by the DNC or Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) despite polls showing a double-digit lead over his competitor, Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine).

The interview took place before Mills dropped out of the race.

“They’re lost, dude. They’re lost,” Stewart said during his “The Weekly Show” podcast.

“It’s so bad,” Platner chimed in.

Stewart said Platner likely hadn’t received formal outreach from the Democratic party due to doubts about his electability.

“You’re either a moderate Democrat or you’re a left-wing firebrand. And so what they’re saying is, oh sure, the left-wing firebrand — that does well in the primary, but that’ll never travel,” Stewart said.

“There’s something crazy about this, as though you are … the Democratic equivalent of a MAGA loyalist who has come out with wildly controversial positions,” he added.

Platner is considered a progressive by some and has centered his campaign on affordability for housing and health care. The oyster farmer has received support from Sens. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) but has said that establishment Democrats have been hesitant to reach out.

On the other hand, Mills received support from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the DSCC and Emily’s List, which decided to endorse the governor after Platner’s controversy regarding online posts and a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol. Platner has said he won’t back Schumer as party leader.

He told Stewart that the best way for Democrats to build political power is “through getting people like me into the U.S. Senate.” Those in power must be pressured before they’ll act, he said.

“There has never been a moment in American history where we’ve gotten good things just because the institutions or people in power decided to do it,” he told the comedian.

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