2026 United States Senate election in Maine
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The 2026 United States Senate election in Maine will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Maine. Republican incumbent Susan Collins is seeking a sixth term. The election will be conducted with ranked-choice voting.
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November 3, 2026
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In the Republican primary, Collins was the only candidate to qualify for the ballot. Sullivan harbor master Graham Platner won the Democratic primary over Governor Janet Mills with the support of progressive leaders, but withdrew from the race following sexual assault accusations and other controversies. A nominating convention will be held to select Platner's replacement; the Maine Democratic Party has until July 27 to name a new candidate.
As Collins is the only Republican senator representing a state that President Donald Trump did not win in any of his three presidential campaigns, the race is considered to be among the most competitive in 2026. Democrats have not won a Senate election in Maine since 1988.[a]
Background
The election will be held on November 3, 2026,[1] coinciding with U.S. House elections, a gubernatorial election, and other local elections.[2] Both the primary and general elections will be conducted with ranked-choice voting.[3] Incumbent Republican U.S. senator Susan Collins is running for re-election to a sixth term.[4] The Democratic primary took place on June 9, 2026.[5]
The northernmost state in New England, Maine is considered to be a moderately blue state. Maine has voted for every Democratic presidential nominee since 1992, and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris defeated Republican nominee Donald Trump by approximately seven percentage points in the 2024 United States presidential election in Maine. Democrats also control the governorship, the state legislature, and both seats in Maine's U.S. House congressional delegation.[6] Since 2018,[b] Collins has been the only Republican representing any New England state in either chamber of Congress.[7]
Collins was first elected in 1996. She has been re-elected in four subsequent elections, significantly outperforming other Republicans in the state. In 2020, despite almost all polls and analysts predicting that she would lose her re-election bid, Collins defeated Democratic nominee Sara Gideon by a nine-point margin. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden carried Maine by about nine percentage points on the same ballot.[8]
This election is expected to be among the most competitive Senate races in 2026.[9] Collins is the only Republican senator who represents one of the 19 states that Donald Trump did not win in any of his three presidential campaigns.[10] With the decline of ticket splitting, Collins is widely viewed as the most vulnerable incumbent Republican senator in 2026.[11][12] Collins is also the only Republican senator facing re-election in a state that Kamala Harris won in the 2024 presidential election.[13] Since the 2024 United States Senate elections, Collins has been the last senator to represent a non-swing state (in other words, a reliably Democratic or Republican state) that typically supports the opposing party.[14]
Republican primary
Incumbent U.S. senator Susan Collins officially announced her re-election bid in February 2026.[15] Despite Collins receiving backlash from some Republicans for not supporting all of Trump's agenda during his second term as president, the Republican Party nonetheless supports her re-election campaign due to the fact that she is the only Republican who has been electorally successful in Maine in recent years.[16] However, she faced an unsuccessful primary challenge from former police officer Dan Smeriglio, who argued that she votes with Senate Democrats too often.[17][18] Ultimately, Collins was the only Republican to qualify for the primary ballot.[19]
Candidates
Nominee
- Susan Collins, incumbent U.S. senator (1997–present)[15][20]
Withdrawn
Endorsements
Executive branch officials
- JD Vance, vice president of the United States (2025–present)[24]
- U.S. senators
- John Thune, Senate majority leader (2025–present) from South Dakota (2005–present)[25]
- Steve Daines, Montana (2015–present)[26]
- Joe Manchin, former West Virginia (2010–2025) (Independent; Democratic until 2024)[27]
- Mitt Romney, former Utah (2019–2025)[28]
- Tim Scott, South Carolina (2013–present)[29]
- State legislators
- Laurel Libby, state representative from the 20th district (2020–present)[30]
- Organizations
Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[35]
Fundraising
Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate
| Campaign finance reports as of May 20, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Carmen Calabrese (R)[c] | $17,760 | $21,260 | $0.00 |
| Susan Collins (R) | $14,925,296 | $6,547,574 | $9,672,914 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[36] | |||
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[d] |
Margin of error |
Carmen Calabrese |
Susan Collins |
Dan Smeriglio |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calabrese withdraws | ||||||||
| University of New Hampshire[37] | February 12–16, 2026 | 417 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 1% | 67% | 6% | 1%[e] | 25% |
| University of New Hampshire[38] | October 16–21, 2025 | 417 (LV) | ± 4.8% | 1% | 66% | 1% | 4%[f] | 27% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Susan Collins (incumbent) | 126,398 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 126,398 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
In April 2025, former congressional staffer Jordan Wood became the first Democrat to enter the race, running on a platform opposed to the Trump administration and Elon Musk.[39]
On August 19, Sullivan harbor master Graham Platner launched a progressive campaign backed by Bernie Sanders and organized labor, positioning himself against the "Democratic establishment" and drawing support from both liberal voters and some 2024 Trump voters.[40][41] In February 2026, Politico described Platner as "unlike any other recent popular candidate the state has seen". Noting Platner's large social media following, Politico added: "He is brash. He is progressive. He has drawn crowds of hundreds of people, national attention and millions in campaign dollars".[42]
After weeks of speculation and leaked campaign plans,[43] Gov. Janet Mills entered the race in October 2025.[44] The DSCC's close involvement in her campaign prompted backlash and allegations of favoritism in the primary.[45][46] Mills was widely viewed as a top Democratic recruit; she was encouraged to run by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC),[47] although Sanders publicly discouraged her candidacy.[48]
Following Mills's entry, several candidates, including Dan Kleban and Daira Smith-Rodriguez, withdrew and endorsed Mills.[49][50] Smith-Rodriguez cited concerns over past comments by Platner regarding sexual assault in the military.[51] Wood later withdrew to run for the U.S. House.[52]
In January 2026, Platner briefly paused his campaign due to his wife's medical treatment abroad[53] before resuming later that month. He returned to the campaign trail with protests against Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement actions.[54]
In February 2026, Mills committed to multiple debates ahead of the June 9 primary.[55]
Mills, Platner, and 2024 nominee David Costello qualified for the primary ballot.[56] In addition, University of Maine adjunct professor Andrea LaFlamme started a write-in bid for the Democratic nomination.[57]
The Platner/Mills contest was seen as a key contest between the Democratic Party's centrist establishment wing and the populist left-wing and progressive faction, with Mills representing the former and Platner representing the latter.[58]
In March 2026, Mills began running attack ads highlighting Platner's controversies. By April 2026, multiple polls had been released which showed Mills as much as 38 points behind Platner in the primary.[59] Shortly thereafter, the Mills campaign stopped running the attack ads and had made no additional ad purchases across any platform, leading to rumors that she would withdraw from the race.[60]
On April 30, Mills announced that she was suspending her campaign. When asked if she would support Platner if he won the Democratic nomination, she stated "I've always been a Democrat. I always supported the Democratic candidate." Her withdrawal also led to Schumer and Gillibrand announcing they would now help Platner to defeat Susan Collins.[61]
Following the end of Mills' campaign, Platner was the only prominent and competitive Democrat left in the race, making him the most likely Democratic nominee.[62] Mills' name remained on the primary ballot,[63] and Costello also continued his campaign.[64] On June 9, Platner won the primary;[65] Platner received over 150,000 votes, more than any other Democratic candidate in a primary in Maine's history.[66]
Controversies over Graham Platner's behavior
Shortly after Mills entered the race, Platner came under fire for resurfaced controversial Reddit posts criticizing police officers, calling rural Americans "stupid" and referring to himself as a "communist", resulting in his campaign's political director, former state representative Genevieve McDonald, quitting the campaign and calling Platner "unelectable"; however, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin stated that the comments were not disqualifying,[67] and Platner apologized in a five-minute video posted to social media. On October 21, Platner released a video of himself dancing and singing shirtless at his brother's wedding, revealing he had a chest tattoo that resembled the Totenkopf used by Nazi Germany's Schutzstaffel. Platner stated he got the tattoo while inebriated with other U.S. Marines while stationed in Croatia, mistaking the symbol for a generic skull and crossbones. He had the tattoo covered,[68] and professed his shame and disgust for getting a tattoo that resembled the fascist insignia.[69] Platner also called himself an anti-fascist "supersoldier" in an old Reddit comment.[70] After the controversies, Democrats such as Senator Chris Murphy defended Platner and said that he "sounds like a human being" who is honest about his mistakes.[71][72][73] Senator Ruben Gallego called his campaign "authentic" and said that he has "the right to grow out of his stupidity" and is not going to be a "crypto-Fetterman".[74][73]
On February 26, 2026, Platner quote-tweeted a clip from Donald Trump's 2026 State of the Union Address, criticizing Trump's speech. The clip had been posted by anti-Semitic white supremacist Stew Peters.[75] The tweet was deleted hours later, with a spokesperson for Platner's campaign telling The Hill that they were unaware of Peters's views.[76][77]
In May 2026, reports surfaced that Platner's wife had alerted his campaign team to explicit messages he was sending to women on the messaging app Kik, expressing concern that the behavior could hurt him politically. Additional reports during the same period drew attention to Platner's Nazi-linked tattoos, as well as past social media posts widely described as bigoted.[78]
In June 2026, The New York Times published an article including allegations of physical abuse and "unsettling" behavior from multiple women.[79] In response, Platner told media that his poor behavior was attributed to PTSD from his service in the Marine Corps. While he specifically denied the accusations made by one woman, he did not dispute the characterization of his behavior toward a second one.[80]
Candidates
Nominee
- Graham Platner, Sullivan harbor master (withdrew after primary)[81][82][83]
Eliminated in primary
- David Costello, former deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024[84][20]
- Andrea LaFlamme, adjunct professor at the University of Maine (write-in candidate)[57][85][86]
- Janet Mills, governor of Maine (2019–present) (suspended campaign)[87]
Withdrawn
- Natasha Alcala, fashion designer[15]
- David Evans, former Department of Defense policy writer[88]
- Tucker Favreau, cybersecurity professional[89][90]
- Dan Kleban, brewery owner (endorsed Mills)[49]
- Daira Smith-Rodriguez, former civilian contracting officer for the U.S. Air Force (endorsed Mills)[51]
- Jordan Wood, former chief of staff to former U.S. Representative Katie Porter (ran for U.S. House; endorsed Platner)[52][91]
Declined
- Aaron Frey, Maine attorney general (2019–present) (endorsed Mills)[92][93]
- Jared Golden, U.S. representative from Maine's 2nd congressional district (2019–present)[94][95]
- Chellie Pingree, U.S. representative from Maine's 1st congressional district (2009–present) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2002 (running for re-election)[96]
Endorsements
Executive branch officials
Robert Reich, former U.S. secretary of labor (1993–1997)(endorsement rescinded after primary)[97][98]Nirav D. Shah, former principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023–2025) and 2026 gubernatorial candidate(endorsement rescinded after primary)[99][100]
- U.S. senators
Ruben Gallego, Arizona (2025–present)(endorsement rescinded after primary)[101]Kirsten Gillibrand, New York (2010–present)(previously endorsed Mills, endorsement rescinded after primary)[102][46][91][101]Martin Heinrich, New Mexico (2013–present)(endorsement rescinded after primary)[103][104]Chris Murphy, Connecticut (2013–present)(endorsement rescinded after primary)[105][106]Bernie Sanders, Vermont (2007–present) (Independent)(endorsement rescinded after primary)[107][108]Brian Schatz, Hawaii (2012–present)(endorsement rescinded after primary)[109][106]Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader (2017–2021, 2025–present) from New York (1999–present)(previously endorsed Mills, endorsement rescinded after primary)[102][91][101]Tina Smith, Minnesota (2018–present)(endorsement rescinded after primary) [110][111]Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts (2013–present)(endorsement rescinded after primary)[112][104]Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island (2007–present)(endorsement rescinded after primary)[113][114]
- U.S. representatives
- Statewide officials
Shenna Bellows, Maine secretary of state (2021–present) and 2026 gubernatorial candidate(endorsement rescinded after primary)[115][116]Matthew Dunlap, Maine state auditor (2021; 2022–present), former Maine secretary of state (2005–2011; 2013–2021), and 2026 candidate for ME-02(endorsement rescinded after primary)[91][100]Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota (2019–present)(endorsement rescinded after primary)[117][111]
- State legislators
Joe Baldacci, state senator from the 9th district (2020–present) and 2026 candidate for ME-02(endorsement rescinded after primary)[91][118]Troy Jackson, former president of the Maine Senate (2018–2024) from the 35th district (2008–2014) and 1st district (2016–2024) and 2026 gubernatorial candidate(endorsement rescinded after primary)[119][100]Genevieve McDonald, former state representative from the 134th district (2018–2022)(endorsement rescinded before primary)[g][120]Hannah Pingree, former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives (2008-2010) and 2026 gubernatorial candidate(endorsement rescinded after primary)[121][104]- Aaron Regunberg, former state representative from Rhode Island's 4th district (2015–2019)[122]
- Joanne Twomey, former state representative from the 19th district (1998–2004) and 135th district (2004–2006)[123]
- 3 current state senators[h]
- 16 current state representatives[i]
- Local officials
- Karen Heck, former mayor of Waterville (2012–2014) (Independent)[128]
- Safiya Khalid, former Lewiston city councilor (2020–2022)[129]
- Carl Sheline, mayor of Lewiston (2022–present)[124]
- Party officials
David Hogg, former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (2025)(endorsement rescinded after primary)[130][131]
- Individuals
- Ken Casey, vocalist for the Dropkick Murphys[132]
- Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers[133]
- John Hodgman, author[134]
- Stephen King, author[135]
- Josh Ritter, singer-songwriter[136]
Jordan Wood, 2026 candidate for ME-02 and former candidate for this seat(previously declined to endorse; endorsement rescinded after primary)[137][91][138]
- Labor unions
Maine AFL-CIO(endorsement rescinded after primary; endorsed Jackson)[139][140]- International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers[141]
- International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers[142]
- Maine State Nurses Association[143]
- National Nurses United[144]
- United Auto Workers[133]
- Organizations
Christopher Street Project(endorsement rescinded after primary)[145]College Democrats of America(endorsement rescinded after primary)[130][146]Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee(previously endorsed Mills, endorsement rescinded after primary)[102][101]End Citizens United(endorsement rescinded after primary)[147]Gen-Z for Change(endorsement rescinded after primary; endorsed Jackson)[130][148]- Maine People's Alliance[149]
Our Revolution(endorsement rescinded after primary; endorsed Jackson)[150][151]- Progressive Change Campaign Committee[152]
Progressive Victory(endorsement rescinded after primary)[153]- Showing Up for Racial Justice[154]
Sierra Club(endorsement rescinded after primary)[155][156]Track AIPAC(endorsement rescinded after primary)[157]Voters of Tomorrow(endorsement rescinded after primary)[130][158]VoteVets(endorsement rescinded after primary)[159][160]
- Political parties
Working Families Party(endorsement rescinded after primary)[161][162]
State legislators
- Mattie Daughtry, president of the Maine Senate (2024–present) from the 23rd district (2020–present)[163]
- Individuals
- Lucas St. Clair, national board chair of the Trust for Public Land[163]
U.S. senators
- Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada (2017–present)[164]
Chuck Schumer, New York (1999–present)[165] (endorsed Platner after Mills suspended her campaign)[166]Kirsten Gillibrand, New York (2010–present)(endorsed Platner after Mills suspended her campaign)[166]
- U.S. representatives
- Barney Frank, former MA-04 (1981–2013)[167] (deceased)
- Statewide officials
- Andy Beshear, governor of Kentucky (2019–present)[168]
- Aaron Frey, attorney general of Maine (2019–present)[169]
- Michelle Lujan Grisham, governor of New Mexico (2019–present)[170]
- Maura Healey, governor of Massachusetts (2023–present)[171]
- Drew Ketterer, former attorney general of Maine (1995–2001)[172]
- Steve Rowe, former attorney general of Maine (2001–2009)[172]
- James E. Tierney, former attorney general of Maine (1981–1991)[172]
- Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan (2019–present)[168]
- State legislators
- Ben Allen, state senator from California's 24th district (2014–present)[173]
- Lynn Bromley, former state senator from the 7th district (2000–2008)[174]
- Emily Cain, former state senator from the 30th district (2012–2014)[175]
- Margaret Craven, former state representative from the 59th district (2002–2008, 2018–2022) and 93rd district (2022–2024)[175]
- Leila Percy, former state representative from the 64th district (2002–2010)[175]
- Linda Sanborn, former state senator from the 30th district (2018–2020)[175]
- Barbara Trafton, former state senator from the 12th district (1979–1982)[175]
- Eloise Vitelli, former majority leader of the Maine Senate (2021–2024) from the 23rd district (2013–2014, 2016–2022) and 24th district (2022–2024)[175]
- Individuals
- Dan Kleban, brewery owner and former candidate for this seat[49]
- Daira Smith-Rodriguez, former civilian contracting officer for the U.S. Air Force and former candidate for this seat[51]
- Organizations
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee(endorsed Platner after Mills suspended her campaign)[176]- Elect Democratic Women[177]
- EMILYs List[178]
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund[179]
- Reproductive Freedom for All[180]
U.S. representatives
- Organizations
U.S. senators
- John Fetterman, Pennsylvania (2023–present) (endorsed against Platner)[184]
- Angus King, Maine (2013–present) (Independent)[185]
- U.S. representatives
- Jake Auchincloss, MA-04 (2021–present) (endorsed against Platner)[186]
- Madeleine Dean, PA-04 (2019–present) (endorsed against Platner)[187]
- Jared Golden, ME-02 (2019–present)[188]
- Seth Moulton, MA-06 (2015–present) and 2026 Massachusetts Senate candidate[189]
- Statewide officials
- Janet Mills, governor of Maine (2019–present) and former candidate for this seat[188]
- Individuals
Fundraising
Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate
| Campaign finance reports as of May 20, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| David Costello (D) | $149,655 | $107,868 | $41,787 |
| David Evans (D)[c] | $6,437 | $6,437 | $0 |
| Tucker Favreau (D)[c] | $13,599 | $4,913 | $5,170 |
| Dan Kleban (D)[c] | $458,787 | $458,367 | $420 |
| Andrea LaFlamme (D) | $7,739 | $1,929 | $5,810 |
| Janet Mills (D)[j] | $5,838,277 | $5,121,375 | $716,903 |
| Graham Platner (D) | $16,312,222 | $14,131,391 | $2,180,832 |
| Daira Smith-Rodriguez (D)[c] | $242,582 | $242,582 | $0 |
| Jordan Wood (D)[c] | $3,098,912 | $2,178,443 | $920,470 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[36] | |||
Polling
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Janet Mills |
Graham Platner |
Other/Undecided [k] |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 270toWin[190] | May 21 – June 5, 2026 | June 8, 2026 | 13.0% | 72.0% | 15.0%[l] | Platner +59.0% |
| Decision Desk HQ[191] | through June 5, 2026 | June 9, 2026 | 19.5% | 65.8% | 14.7% | Platner +46.3% |
| Race to the WH[192] | through May 25, 2026 | May 27, 2026 | 11.9% | 74.4% | 13.7%[m] | Platner +62.5% |
| Average | 14.8% | 70.7% | 14.5% | Platner +55.9% | ||
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[d] |
Margin of error |
David Costello |
Janet Mills |
Graham Platner |
Jordan Wood |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tavern Research (D)[193] | June 5, 2026 | 704 (LV) | ± 5.9% | 5% | 16% | 68% | — | 2%[n] | 9% |
| — | 31% | 69% | — | — | — | ||||
| — | — | 72% | — | 28%[o] | — | ||||
| University of New Hampshire[194] | May 21–25, 2026 | 595 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 3% | 10% | 76% | — | 2%[p] | 8% |
| Mills suspends her campaign, remains on ballot | |||||||||
| Workbench Strategy (D)[195][A] | April 6–9, 2026 | 600 (LV) | — | — | 29% | 64% | — | — | 7% |
| Maine People's Resource Center (D)[196][B] | March 20–31, 2026 | 514 (LV) | — | 2% | 28% | 61% | — | — | 9% |
| Emerson College[197] | March 21–23, 2026 | 530 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 1% | 28% | 55% | — | 4%[q] | 13% |
| Impact Research (D)[198][C] | March 19–23, 2026 | 500 (LV) | — | — | 28% | 66% | — | — | 6% |
| Quantus Insights (R)[199] | March 5, 2026 | 450 (LV) | ± 3.4% | — | 38% | 43% | — | — | 19% |
| Pan Atlantic Research[200] | February 13 – March 2, 2026 | 367 (LV) | — | 4% | 39% | 46% | — | — | 11% |
| University of New Hampshire[37] | February 12–16, 2026 | 462 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 1% | 26% | 64% | — | 3%[r] | 6% |
| Favreau withdraws | |||||||||
| Workbench Strategy (D)[201][A] | December 11–16, 2025 | 500 (LV) | — | — | 40% | 55% | — | — | 5% |
| Pan Atlantic Research[202] | November 29 – December 7, 2025 | 318 (LV) | — | 1% | 47% | 37% | — | — | 14% |
| Z to A Research (D)[203][D] | November 14–18, 2025 | 845 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 0% | 38% | 58% | — | 2%[s] | 2% |
| Wood withdraws | |||||||||
| Maine People's Resource Center (D)[204][B] | October 26–29, 2025 | 783 (V) | ± 3.5% | — | 39% | 41% | 5% | — | 14% |
| — | 47%[t] | 53% | — | — | — | ||||
| SoCal Strategies[205] | October 21–25, 2025 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 1% | 41% | 36% | 2% | — | 20% |
| NRSC (R)[206] | October 22–23, 2025 | 647 (LV) | ± 3.5% | — | 25% | 46% | 3% | — | 26% |
| University of New Hampshire[38] | October 16–21, 2025 | 510 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 1% | 24% | 58% | 1% | 1%[u] | 14% |
Results
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- 70–80%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Graham Platner | 154,084 | 72.1 | |
| Democratic | Janet Mills (withdrawn) | 41,644 | 19.2 | |
| Democratic | David Costello | 17,560 | 8.1 | |
| Democratic | Andrea LaFlamme (write-in) | 1,114 | 0.5 | |
| Total votes | 216,402 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic nominating convention
Sexual assault allegations and Platner's withdrawal
On July 6, 2026, a woman Platner had previously dated accused him of raping her while he was drunk nearly five years prior.[208][209][210] Platner denied the accusation, accusing it of being a political attack to derail his campaign.[208][209] The next day, another woman who had previously dated Platner alleged that he would take condoms off during sex without her consent.[211][212]
Shortly after the rape allegation, US Senator Ruben Gallego and US Representative Ro Khanna rescinded their endorsements of Platner, and the Maine Democratic Party released a statement calling on Platner to suspend his campaign.[213][214] Platner later stated on the same day that the campaign would "tak[e] the time to reflect on the best path forward," fueling speculation that he would withdraw from the race.[215] Soon, numerous organizations and US senators, including those who had endorsed Platner, called on him to exit the race.[216][217] Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Kirsten Gillibrand, who also rescinded their endorsements, stated that the DSCC would not invest in the race as long as Platner remained on the ballot.[216][218][219] On July 8, Platner announced that he would drop out of the race.[220] He officially filed to withdraw two days later.[83][221]
Process
According to Maine statute, the Maine Democratic Party has until July 27 to select a new nominee following Platner's withdrawal.[222] No political party in Maine has replaced their nominee in an election before. While the exact process to be used was not immediately certain, Maine Democratic Party officials and others like Maine Senate president Mattie Daughtry called for an open and inclusive process.[223] On July 8, the Maine Democratic Party voted to hold a state party convention to nominate a candidate to replace Platner as the Democratic nominee. The convention will consist of 600 delegates overall, including the party's state committee.[224] 500 of the delegates will be elected at county-level meetings. All delegates at the convention will be unpledged.[225]
In order to qualify for the convention, replacement candidates must collect at least 500 signatures, with at least 50 signatures from 8 different counties.[226]
Candidates
Declared
- Shenna Bellows, Maine secretary of state (2021–present), nominee for U.S. Senate in 2014, and candidate for governor in 2026[227]
- David Costello, former deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024, and primary candidate for this seat[228]
- Troy Jackson, former president of the Maine Senate (2018–2024), candidate for Maine's 2nd congressional district in 2014, and candidate for governor in 2026[229]
- Dan Kleban, brewery owner and former primary candidate for this seat[230]
- Andrea LaFlamme, adjunct professor at the University of Maine and primary candidate for this seat[231]
- Paige Loud, social worker and candidate for ME-02 in 2026[232]
- Nirav Shah, former principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023–2025), former director of the Maine CDC (2019–2023), and candidate for governor in 2026[233]
- Jordan Wood, former chief of staff to former U.S. representative Katie Porter, former primary candidate for this seat, and candidate for ME-02 in 2026[234][235]
Publicly expressed interest
- Valli Geiger, state representative (2020–present)[236][237]
Potential
- Ryan Fecteau, speaker of the Maine House of Representatives (2020–2022, 2024–present)[238]
- Aaron Frey, Maine attorney general (2019–present)[239]
- Sara Gideon, speaker of the Maine House of Representatives (2016–2020) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020[239]
- Janet Mills, governor of Maine (2019–present) and primary candidate for this seat[239]
- Chellie Pingree, U.S. representative from Maine's 1st congressional district (2009–present) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2002 (currently running for re-election)[238]
Declined
- Joe Baldacci, state senator from the 9th district (2020–present) and candidate for ME-02 in 2026[240]
- Mattie Daughtry, president of the Maine Senate (2024–present)[241]
- Patrick Dempsey, actor[236][242]
- Jared Golden, U.S. representative from ME-02 (2019–present)[243][244][245]
- Heather Cox Richardson, historian[236][246]
Endorsements
- U.S. representatives
- Individuals
- Hasan Piker, political commentator[248]
- Labor unions
- Maine AFL-CIO (previously endorsed Platner)[249]
- Organizations
- Gen-Z for Change (previously endorsed Platner)[250][better source needed]
- Our Revolution (previously endorsed Platner)[251]
- Sunrise Movement[250][better source needed]
- U.S. senators
- Tammy Duckworth, Illinois (2017–present) (endorsed against Shah)[252]
Independents
Candidates
Did not qualify
Withdrawn
- Phillip Rench, former member of the Maine Space Corporation Board of Directors (2023–2025)[255][256]
Fundraising
Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate
| Campaign finance reports as of September 30, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Phillip Rench (I)[c] | $55,313 | $31,072 | $24,241 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[36] | |||
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Elections[257] | Tilt R | April 23, 2026 |
| RealClearPolitics[258] | Tossup | May 24, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[259] | Tossup | June 2, 2026 |
| The Cook Political Report[260] | Tossup | June 2, 2026 |
| The Economist[261][v] | Tossup | July 6, 2026 |
| Race to the WH[262] | Tossup | July 9, 2026 |
Post-primary endorsements
- Executive branch officials
- Jeff Flake, former ambassador to Turkey (2022–2024) and U.S. senator from Arizona (2013–2019)[263]
- Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018)[264]
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[265]
- U.S. senators
Ed Markey, Massachusetts (2013–present)(endorsement rescinded)[101]
- Individuals
- Bill Maher, TV host and comedian (Independent)[266]
- Labor unions
- Organizations
Planned Parenthood Action Fund(endorsement rescinded)[268][269]
- Executive branch officials
- Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state (2009–2013) (Democratic; declined to endorse Platner)[270]
- U.S. senators
- Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada (2017–present) (Democratic; declined to endorse Platner)[271]
- Tammy Duckworth, Illinois (2017–present) (Democratic; declined to endorse Platner)[271]
- John Fetterman, Pennsylvania (2023–present) (Democratic; declined to endorse Platner)[271]
- Mark Kelly, Arizona (2020–present) (Democratic; declined to endorse Platner)[271]
- Raphael Warnock, Georgia (2021–present) (Democratic; declined to endorse Platner)[272]
- Individuals
- Dan Osborn, former union leader and 2026 U.S. Senate candidate in Nebraska (Independent; declined to endorse Platner)[273][274]
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of May 20, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Susan Collins (R) | $14,925,296 | $6,547,574 | $9,672,914 |
| TBD | |||
| Source: Federal Election Commission[36] | |||
Polling
- Susan Collins vs. Shenna Bellows
- Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Susan Collins (R) |
Shenna Bellows (D) |
Other/ |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race to the WH[192] | Through July 8, 2026 | July 9, 2026 | 47.6% | 46.4% | 6.0% | Collins +1.2% |
- Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson
- Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Susan Collins (R) |
Troy Jackson (D) |
Other/ |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race to the WH[192] | Through July 8, 2026 | July 9, 2026 | 45.5% | 47.7% | 6.8% | Jackson +2.2% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[d] |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins (R) |
Troy Jackson (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z to A Research (D)[275][E] | July 7–8, 2026 | 988 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 48% | 47% | 5% |
| Public Policy Polling (D)[276][F] | July 7, 2026 | 785 (LV) | — | 44% | 49% | 7% |
| Wedgewood Polls[277] | July 4–6, 2026 | 405 (LV) | ± 5.8% | 43% | 48% | 9% |
- Susan Collins vs. Dan Kleban
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[d] |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins (R) |
Dan Kleban (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D)[278][G] | September 8–9, 2025 | 642 (RV) | — | 35% | 44% | 21% |
- Susan Collins vs. Nirav Shah
- Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Susan Collins (R) |
Nirav Shah (D) |
Other/ |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race to the WH[192] | Through July 8, 2026 | July 9, 2026 | 46.0% | 45.3% | 8.7% | Collins +0.7% |
- Susan Collins vs. Jordan Wood
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[d] |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins (R) |
Jordan Wood (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D)[276][F] | July 7, 2026 | 785 (LV) | — | 47% | 38% | 15% |
- Susan Collins vs. Graham Platner
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[d] |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins (R) |
Graham Platner (D) |
Other | Undecided | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platner suspends his campaign | |||||||||||||||
| Public Policy Polling (D)[276][F] | July 7, 2026 | 785 (LV) | — | 47% | 42% | — | 11% | ||||||||
| Platner sexual assault allegation reported | |||||||||||||||
| Wedgewood Polls[277] | July 4–6, 2026 | 405 (LV) | ± 5.8% | 50% | 46% | — | 4% | ||||||||
| Tavern Research (D)[279] | July 3–6, 2026 | 1,074 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 48% | 52% | — | — | ||||||||
| Beacon Research (D)/Shaw & Co. Research (R)[280][H] | June 23–27, 2026 | 1,003 (RV) | ± 3.0% | 50% | 47% | — | 3% | ||||||||
| The New York Times/Portland Press Herald/Siena University[281] | June 19–26, 2026 | 608 (LV) | ± 4.8% | 47% | 49% | — | 4% | ||||||||
| Wick (R)/2WAY[282] | June 11–14, 2026 | 1,008 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 45% | 48% | — | 7% | ||||||||
| Quantus Insights (R)[283] | June 9–11, 2026 | 870 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 45% | 46% | 2%[w] | 7% | ||||||||
| The Public Sentiment Institute[192][284] | June 8, 2026 | 497 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 44% | 43% | — | 13% | ||||||||
| Tavern Research (D)[285] | June 5–8, 2026 | 1,642 (LV) | ± 2.8% | 49% | 51% | — | — | ||||||||
| Public Policy Polling (D)[286][A] | June 2–3, 2026 | 670 (RV) | ± 3.8% | 45% | 49% | — | 6% | ||||||||
| Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[287][I] | June 1–3, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 46% | 46% | — | 8% | ||||||||
| UMass Lowell/YouGov[288] | May 13–26, 2026 | 650 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 43% | 48% | 1%[x] | 6% | ||||||||
| University of New Hampshire[194] | May 21–25, 2026 | 1,280 (LV) | ± 2.7% | 42% | 51% | 2%[y] | 8% | ||||||||
| Pan Atlantic Research[289] | May 8–18, 2026 | 827 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 41% | 48% | — | 11% | ||||||||
| Echelon Insights (R)[290][J] | April 3–9, 2026 | 378 (LV) | ± 6.3% | 45% | 51% | — | 6% | ||||||||
| Maine People's Resource Center (D)[196][B] | March 20–31, 2026 | 1,167 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 39% | 48% | — | 13% | ||||||||
| Emerson College[197] | March 21–23, 2026 | 1,075 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 41% | 48% | 6%[z] | 6% | ||||||||
| OnMessage Public Strategies (R)[291][K] | March 3–8, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 42% | 44% | — | 14% | ||||||||
| Quantus Insights (R)[199] | March 5, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 42% | 49% | 4%[aa] | 6% | ||||||||
| Pan Atlantic Research[200] | February 13 – March 2, 2026 | 810 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 40% | 44% | — | 16% | ||||||||
| University of New Hampshire[37] | February 12–16, 2026 | 1,105 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 38% | 49% | 4%[ab] | 9% | ||||||||
| Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[292][I] | January 20–24, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 45% | 44% | — | 11% | ||||||||
| Workbench Strategy (D)[201][A] | December 11–16, 2025 | 900 (LV) | ±4.4% | 50% | 50% | — | — | ||||||||
| Pan Atlantic Research[202] | November 29 – December 7, 2025 | 820 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 42% | 43% | — | 15% | ||||||||
| Maine People's Resource Center[204][B] | October 26–29, 2025 | 783 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 41% | 45% | — | 14% | ||||||||
| Zenith Research (D)[293][L] | October 7–10, 2025 | 501 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 38% | 38% | 10%[ac] | 15% | ||||||||
Susan Collins vs. generic Democrat
Susan Collins vs. Janet Mills
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[d] |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins (R) |
Janet Mills (D) |
Other | Undecided | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D)[276][F] | July 7, 2026 | 785 (LV) | — | 48% | 37% | — | 15% | |
| Wedgewood Polls[277] | July 4–6, 2026 | 405 (LV) | ± 5.8% | 47% | 47% | — | 6% | |
| Tavern Research (D)[285] | June 5–8, 2026 | 1,642 (LV) | ± 2.8% | 48% | 52% | — | — | |
| Mills suspends her campaign | ||||||||
| Echelon Insights (R)[290][J] | April 3–9, 2026 | 378 (LV) | ± 6.3% | 46% | 48% | — | 6% | |
| Maine People's Resource Center (D)[196][B] | March 20–31, 2026 | 1,167 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 45% | 42% | — | 9% | |
| Emerson College[197] | March 21–23, 2026 | 1,075 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 43% | 46% | 8%[ad] | 3% | |
| OnMessage Public Strategies (R)[291][K] | March 3–8, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 42% | 42% | — | 16% | |
| Quantus Insights (R)[199] | March 5, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 45% | 43% | 7%[ae] | 6% | |
| Pan Atlantic Research[200] | February 13 – March 2, 2026 | 810 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 44% | 44% | — | 12% | |
| University of New Hampshire[37] | February 12–16, 2026 | 1,105 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 40% | 41% | 9%[af] | 10% | |
| Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[292][I] | January 20–24, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 45% | 44% | — | 11% | |
| Workbench Strategy (D)[201][A] | December 11–16, 2025 | 900 (LV) | ±4.4% | 51% | 49% | — | — | |
| Pan Atlantic Research[202] | November 29 – December 7, 2025 | 820 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 43% | 43% | — | 14% | |
| Maine People's Resource Center[204][B] | October 26–29, 2025 | 783 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 46% | 42% | — | 14% | |
| Zenith Research (D)[293][L] | October 7–10, 2025 | 501 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 37% | 42% | 10%[ac] | 12% | |
Notes
- Angus King, who was elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2018 and 2024, is an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, but is not officially a member of the party.
- When Bruce Poliquin lost his seat
- Withdrawn candidate
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - "Another candidate" with 1%
- "Write in someone else" with 4%
- Resigned as campaign political director and withdrew endorsement after controversy around old Reddit comments.
- Pinny Beebe-Center, state senator from the 12th district (2022–present)[124]
- Chip Curry, state senator from the 11th district (2020–present)[124]
- Mike Tipping, state senator for the 8th district (2022–present)[125]
- Mana Abdi, state representative from the 95th district (2022–present)[124]
- Matthew Beck, state representative from the 122nd district (2024–present)[126]
- Deqa Dhalac, state representative from the 120th district (2022–present)[124]
- Janice Dodge, state representative from the 97th district (2018–present)[124]
- Victoria Doudera, state representative from the 94th district (2018–2022) and 47th district (2022–present)[124]
- Gary Friedmann, state representative from the 14th district (2024–present)[124]
- Valli Geiger, state representative from the 93rd district (2020–2022) and the 42nd district (2022–present)[127]
- Cheryl Golek, state representative from the 99th district (2022–present)[124]
- Rafael Macias, state representative from the 51st district[124]
- Nina Milliken, state representative from the 16th district (2022–present)[115]
- Karen Montell, state representative from the 54th district (2022–present)[124]
- Dylan Pugh, state representative from the 114th district (2024–present)[124]
- Ambureen Rana, state representative from the 21st district (2022–present)[124]
- Morgan Rielly, Maine House of Representatives from the 34th district (2020–2022) and 127th district (2022–present)[124]
- Ellie Sato, state representative from the 109th district (2024–present)[124]
- Kilton Webb, state representative from the 98th district (2024–present)[124]
- Campaign suspended
- Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
- David Costello with 4%; Andrea LaFlamme with 2%
- David Costello with 2.9%; Andrea LaFlamme with 1.6%
- LaFlamme with 2%
- "Another Democrat candidate" with 28%
- "Another candidate" with 2%
- LaFlamme and "Someone else" with 2%
- LaFlamme with 2%; "Another candidate" with 1%; Evans and Favreau with 0%
- Evans and LaFlamme with 1%; Favreau with 0%
- With undecided and Wood votes re-allocated based on second-choice preference
- "Write in someone else" with 1%; Evans, Favreau, and LaFlamme with 0%
- The Economist's prediction model uses unconventional terminology. For the purpose of equivalency, their "Very Likely" ratings are formatted as a "Likely" rating, while their "Likely" ratings are formatted as a "Lean" rating.
- "Someone else" with 2%
- "Would not vote" with 1%
- "Another candidate" with 2%
- "Someone else" with 6%
- Someone else / Third party with 3%, would not vote with 1%
- "Another candidate" with 4%
- "Another candidate" with 9%; "Would not vote" with 1%
- "Someone else" with 8%
- Someone else / Third party with 6%, would not vote with 1%
- "Another candidate" with 9%
Partisan client
- Poll commissioned by gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson, who has endorsed Platner's campaign.[119]
- Poll sponsored by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which has endorsed Platner's campaign.
- Poll commissioned by a pro-Shah group
- Poll sponsored by Platner's campaign.
- Poll sponsored by Kleban's campaign.
- Poll sponsored by Pine Tree Results, a Collins-aligned Super PAC.
- Poll sponsored by the Insurance Watchdog Coalition.
- Poll sponsored by More Perfect Union, a progressive non-profit news media organization.