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Graham Platner Leads Collins, Democrats Eye Crucial Senate Seat

5/28/2026

27 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

After Gov. Janet Mills withdrew, a University of New Hampshire poll showed Graham Platner at 76% of voters.
Poll gave Platner a 51% to 42% lead over Sen. Susan Collins.
Voters are split, with 47% favoring Collins and 44% favoring Platner.
Pan Atlantic and Maine People’s Resource Center surveys put Platner ahead by 7-9 points, prompting Democrats to need the seat to flip four Senate seats to regain control.

History

Historical Context

Since first winning a Senate seat in 1997, Susan Collins secured a fourth term on Nov 4 2014, defeating Democrat Shenna Bellows with 68% of the vote and carrying every Maine county—the last Republican to do so in Cumberland and Knox. The race, the only GOP-held Senate seat in an Obama-won state, now shows UNH polls giving Republican Graham Platner a roughly seven-point lead over Collins.

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Story summary

After Gov. Janet Mills withdrew, a University of New Hampshire poll showed Graham Platner at 76% of voters.
Poll gave Platner a 51% to 42% lead over Sen. Susan Collins.
Voters are split, with 47% favoring Collins and 44% favoring Platner.
Pan Atlantic and Maine People’s Resource Center surveys put Platner ahead by 7-9 points, prompting Democrats to need the seat to flip four Senate seats to regain control.

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