Graham Platner holds a 9-percentage-point lead over Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in a hypothetical general election matchup for Maine’s Senate seat, according to new polling.
The Pine Tree State Poll from the University of New Hampshire found that 51% of likely general election voters say they would support Platner “if the election were held today,” compared with 42% for Collins. Two percent said they would back another candidate, while 6% remain undecided.
The survey indicates little change in the race since February, before former Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) exited the contest. Despite dropping out, Mills is still expected to appear on the June 9 Democratic primary ballot and could still receive support in that contest.
Collins has held her Senate seat for nearly three decades after taking office in 1997.
Platner, a Democratic populist running with backing from progressive figures including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), has positioned himself as a fresh challenge to the longtime incumbent.
However, Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) has declined to support his campaign, citing controversy surrounding a tattoo he said resembled a Nazi symbol.
“As I said months ago, I find Platner’s Nazi tattoo and his commentary about it personally disqualifying,” Auchincloss wrote in a post on Monday. “If it were me, I’d vote for someone else in the Maine Democratic primary.”
JAKE AUCHINCLOSS DENIES SUPPORTING COLLINS IN MAINE SENATE RACE AFTER OPPOSING PLATNER BID
Platner has also faced criticism over resurfaced posts that included comments about sexual assault and alcohol consumption, which drew accusations of sexism after they reemerged last year.
The poll surveyed 1,397 Maine residents from Thursday through Monday and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.