New polling shows Democrats leading in Maine's key 2026 races. In the U.S. Senate contest, Democrat Graham Platner leads incumbent Republican Susan Collins 48% to 41%. In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, former health chief Nirav Shah is the frontrunner with 29% support. The races are marked by heavy ad spending, with a pro-Collins PAC spending nearly $2M to attack Platner.
Maine 2026 Senate race polling
- ▪The Pan Atlantic Research survey was conducted between May 8 and May 18, 2026, and has a 3.7% margin of error
- ▪Graham Platner's lead over Susan Collins grew from one point in a December 2025 poll to seven points in the May 2026 poll
- ▪In the Maine Senate race poll, 11% of voters were undecided
- ▪Polling in Susan Collins' races is viewed with caution after she overperformed polls in her 2020 victory against Sara Gideon
- ▪A Pan Atlantic Research poll shows Democrat Graham Platner leading Republican Sen. Susan Collins 48% to 41% among 827 likely general election voters in Maine
Maine gubernatorial primary races
- ▪Outgoing Maine Governor Janet Mills endorsed Hannah Pingree in the Democratic primary on May 19, 2026
- ▪In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, 16% of voters remain undecided
- ▪In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, former public health chief Nirav Shah leads with 29% first-choice support, according to a poll of 402 likely voters
- ▪Because the primary uses ranked-choice voting, Nirav Shah appeared in the top two on 39% of ballots, while three rivals were between 31% and 33%
- ▪Following Nirav Shah in the Democratic primary poll are Angus King III (24%), Troy Jackson (12%), Shenna Bellows (10%), and Hannah Pingree (9%)
- ▪In the Republican gubernatorial primary, former Bush administration official Bobby Charles leads with 36% first-choice support among 287 likely voters
Congressional district voter splits
- ▪Susan Collins leads Graham Platner among male voters and those without a four-year college degree
- ▪Graham Platner leads Susan Collins among independents (48% to 35%), women, and more educated voters
- ▪In the Senate race, Republican Susan Collins leads Democrat Graham Platner 45% to 41% among voters in Maine's 2nd Congressional District
Campaign advertising strategies
- ▪In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Hannah Pingree has spent the most on advertising at $667,000
- ▪Gubernatorial candidate Nirav Shah has spent nearly $580,000 on ads and benefited from a $650,000 ad campaign by the outside group 314 Action
- ▪Nirav Shah was criticized by rivals for the 314 Action ad campaign, as the group supports school choice
- ▪Pro-Collins super PAC Pine Tree Results has spent nearly $2 million on ads attacking Graham Platner's past
Maine voter priorities
- ▪According to the poll, 75% of Maine voters named cost of living and inflation among the three most important issues facing the state.
- ▪Among likely general election voters, President Donald Trump had a net favorability rating of negative 23 points
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