Graham Platner, a Democratic contender in the 2026 Maine Senate race, is struggling to gain traction with voters after his controversial online history came to light, according to a new poll.
The Nov. 7 survey, released by Democratic pollster EMILYs List, shows Platner trailing Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) significantly because of his pro-communism, anti-white, anti-police Reddit posts.
When respondents were provided balanced information about the political newcomer, Platner was behind Collins by nine points in the hypothetical matchup. However, when respondents were read quotes from his online posts and given information about his Nazi tattoo, the nine-point gap grew to 19.
Even when respondents were given Platner’s lengthy apology, he only closed the 19-point gap by five points. In all three scenarios, Collins remained above 50% in support.
Platner’s grassroots campaign was thrown into turmoil last month after his social media posts, in which he described himself as a “communist,” castigated rural white Americans, and called police officers “bastards” following George Floyd’s murder by an officer in 2020 resurfaced. He also bore a skull-and-crossbones tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol. The tattoo has since been covered up.
While Platner is trying to emphasize his experience as a veteran and oyster farmer from Maine, the damage has already been done one year out from the general election. Multiple staffers working on his campaign have resigned in recent weeks due to the controversies.
Based on the survey results, the left-leaning pollster argues it’s difficult for Platner to recover.
“The poll’s findings are clear,” Tiernan Donohue, chief campaigns officer of EMILYs List, said. “Maine voters find Graham Platner’s comments blaming victims for sexual assault, calling the Mainers he is seeking to represent ‘racist’ and ‘stupid,’ and promoting violent political action completely disqualifying.”
Platner is challenging Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) for the Democratic nomination in the Maine Senate race, while Collins is seeking to defend her seat.
Although Collins is ahead of Platner in the polls, Maine voters don’t have much of an appetite for her reelection. Democrats lead Republicans by nine points on a generic ballot, and Collins’s approval rating is in the negative by 10 points. The senator only received 44% approval, compared to 54% disapproval.
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Mills was not included in the poll. EMILYs List endorsed Mills last month when she announced her Senate bid.
Impact Research conducted the poll from Oct. 22 to Oct. 27, with a sample size of 700 likely Maine voters and a 3.7% margin of error.