New polls show Democrats leading in Maine's 2026 gubernatorial and Senate races
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 identified cost of living and inflation as the most important issue facing the state.
▪Among likely general election voters, President Donald Trump had a net favorability rating of negative 23 points.
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