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By Andrew Stanton
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Graham Platner received a polling boost in his bid to win the Democratic nomination to take on Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine in the midterm elections.
Newsweek reached out to the campaigns of Platner and Governor Janet Mills, his rival in the primary, for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Democrats view Collins’ seat as one of their top pickup opportunities in the 2026 Senate race. Maine generally leans toward Democrats, having backed former Vice President Kamala Harris by about 7 percentage points in 2024, but Collins has won by large margins in the past because of her personal popularity and more bipartisan record. Maine has been a state where ticket-splitting, increasingly uncommon across the nation, still occurs.
Read More on Politics
But 2026 may be Collins’ toughest race yet. Democrats believe a favorable national environment, fueled by President Donald Trump’s declining approval rating amid economic concerns, and increased political polarization that has chipped away at Collins’ approval rating will give them their best chance at flipping the seat in decades. It’s seen as a must-win for Democrats to win a Senate majority.
But the race to take on Collins is viewed as competitive. Platner and Mills are set to face off in the Democratic primary. Progressives have rallied behind Platner, but Mills has received the support of party leadership.
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What To Know
The latest poll of the race from Impact Research showed Platner with a sizable lead over Mills. The poll was posted to X by former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, a Democratic candidate in the state’s gubernatorial race, and surveyed 500 likely voters from March 19 to 23. It showed Platner with support from 66 percent of respondents, while 28 percent said they would vote for Mills.
“A new poll reveals what Mainers on the ground already know: @grahamformaine will be our party’s nominee for U.S. Senate,” Jackson wrote. "Graham gets that it’s time to upset the status quo. So do I. I’m proud to be the only candidate for governor to have endorsed him in this race.”
Janet Mills Launches Platner Attack Ads
The poll comes as the primary between Platner and Mills has become increasingly contentious. Platner’s supporters believe his biography as a veteran and oyster farmer will resonate with Mainers and that he better represents a new generation of leadership compared to Mills, 78. However, Mills' backers believe her past wins in the state make her a safer bet in the general election, while Platner may be a riskier candidate.
Mills in recent weeks has launched a series of attack ads against Platner, highlighting old posts to Reddit and a tattoo resembling Nazi imagery. In one ad, several women read posts he made about sexual assault victims and describe the posts as “disqualifying” and Platner as a “bully.”
Platner has faced criticism over unearthed social media posts and the revelation he had a tattoo resembling the Totenkopf, or “death’s head,” a symbol adopted by the Nazi SS.
Platner has apologized for the posts and previously told Newsweek regarding the tattoo: “I absolutely would not have gone through life having this on my chest if I knew that—and to insinuate that I did is disgusting. I am already planning to get this removed."
Platner addressed the posts again in a March 17 post to X after the ads began.
“Back in October, when my past internet comments resurfaced, I read through them. I was horrified and did not recognize the man on the other side of the posts. I shared my thoughts and apologies here directly with Mainers. And I’ve been talking with Mainers every day since, at town halls across the state. I’m eternally grateful for the people of Maine who welcomed me home, made me the man I am today, and have now built this beautiful campaign alongside me,” he wrote.
The latest poll suggests the ads have not chipped away at Platner’s polling numbers.
Mills, however, has stood by the ads.
"My opponent has minimized sexual assault and blamed survivors for their rape. That's appalling at any age. He was an adult when he made those statements," Mills said during a virtual press conference, reported Portland-based news station WMTW.
What Do Other Polls Show About Maine's Senate Race?
Other polling has also showed Platner with a lead over Mills.
The latest Emerson College poll gave Platner a 27-point lead (55 percent to 28 percent). It surveyed 530 likely voters from March 21 to 23. A Quantus Insights poll, conducted among 450 likely voters from March 3 to 5, showed Platner up a more modest 5 points (43 percent to 38 percent).
Both polls showed Platner in a stronger position than Mills in the general election.
The Emerson poll showed Platner up seven points over Collins (48 percent to 41 percent), while Mills was up about three points (46 percent to 43 percent). The Quantus Insights poll showed Platner up seven points (49 percent to 42 percent) and Collins up two points over Mills (45 percent to 43 percent).
What People Are Saying
Graham Platner, on X: “We are going to win the youth vote. We are going to win seniors. We are going to win men and women, the cities and the towns. We're building a movement to deliver a huge victory in June, to win in November, and show this country the way forward. As Maine goes, so goes the nation.”
Progressive commentator Jack Cocchiarella, on X: “Impact Research lists the DSCC and SMP as clients. Chuck Schumer’s pollster has Graham up 38 points. It’s time for Mills to drop out.”
Journalist Nathan Bernard, on X: “Mills incessant attack ads on Platner's decade-old Reddit posts continue to backfire.”
What Happens Next
Forecasters view the race as one of the most competitive in the country in the general election. The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball classify the race as being a toss-up. The primary is set for June 9.
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