New Poll Shows Senator Susan Collins Facing Tough Re-Election Battle
AUGUSTA, Maine — April 21, 2026
A new survey from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center indicates that Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) holds leads or is competitive against the leading Democratic contenders in the race for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat.
The Pine Tree State Poll released Tuesday shows Graham Platner leading Janet Mills in the Democratic primary by 64% to 25% among all respondents, and 71% to 51% among likely Democratic voters. In hypothetical general election matchups, Platner leads Collins 49% to 38%, while Mills and Collins are statistically tied at 41% to 40%.
The poll also found independents favoring Platner over Collins by 47% to 38%, but preferring Collins over Mills by 35% to 29%. A significant portion of independents remain undecided in the Mills matchup.
Collins, a four-term incumbent, has represented Maine in the Senate since 1997. She is seeking re-election in a state that has trended Democratic in presidential races but has supported Collins in previous cycles due to her moderate positioning.
The Democratic primary winner will face Collins in November. The seat is viewed as competitive, though Collins has historically performed well in a state with a strong independent voter bloc.
Both Platner and Mills have positioned themselves as progressive alternatives to Collins. Platner has drawn attention for past controversial statements and associations, while Mills, the current governor, has faced criticism over state economic and policy issues.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee has described Mills as a “disaster” for Maine, citing higher taxes, housing costs, and grocery prices under her governorship. Collins’ campaign reported raising $2.2 million in the last quarter of 2025, with over $8 million cash on hand.
The Maine Senate race is one of several contests that could influence control of the U.S. Senate in the 2026 midterms. Republicans currently hold a narrow majority and are defending several seats, while Democrats aim to flip key battlegrounds.
Polling and fundraising figures can shift as the campaign progresses. The primary election is scheduled for June, with the general election in November.
A Stranger Entered His Home With a Key and Revealed His Wife’s Hidden Past
Daniel Mercer saw the woman unlock his front door before he ever learned her name.
The Folded Letter That Exposed the Truth Her Father Hid for Fifteen Years
The Folded Letter Hidden Beneath the Ballroom Lights That Changed Everything She Believed About Her Family
A Father Finds A Message To His Baby And Questions Everything He Knows
The baby’s crying had already turned heads across the grocery store parking lot before Daniel Mercer reached the blue sedan and saw his daughter’s tiny hands pressed against the inside of the window.
The Stolen Signature That Could Send a Respected Attorney to Prison
The bailiff had barely finished saying "all rise" when Daniel Mercer heard the sentence that could destroy the life he had spent fifteen years building.
The Missing Father’s Warning Hidden Inside a Broken Rabbit Opened a Door No One Was Meant to Find
Mara Bell found the first sign that her father had not left her behind inside a rabbit with a missing eye.
The Stained Shirt That Exposed A Family Secret
The white shirt on the kitchen island was still warm when Clara Bennett saw the stain spreading across the fabric.
The Wedding Certificate That Named Another Woman Before The Ceremony
The wedding certificate was still warm from the printer when Emily Carter saw another woman's name written where her own should have been.
The Wife He Lost Returns Alive and Exposes the Mystery Behind Her Disappearance
The first time Marcus Vale saw his dead wife alive again, he was holding another woman's hand in a hotel lobby full of strangers.
The Hidden Medical Document Revealing The Truth His Family Kept From Him
The Illness That Revealed The Family Truth Everyone Tried To Hide
The Torn Birth Record That Challenged Everything He Knew About His Family
The first thing Daniel Whitmore noticed was the sound of his daughter crying in a house where nobody was supposed to be afraid.
The Restaurant Owner Forced To Choose Who Leaves As A Hidden Message Reveals The Threat Was Planned
The first thing Daniel Mercer noticed was that nobody in his restaurant was eating anymore.
My Husband Demanded My Password After My Cancer Treatment And I Discovered His Obsession With My Life Insurance
The first time Adam put his hand on my head, I thought he was trying to steady me.
Widow Returned From Her Husband’s Funeral To Find Her Family Dividing His Belongings Before Her Shocking Television Revelation
The first thing I saw when I stepped out of the airport terminal was not my son’s car, not my daughter’s familiar wave, and not a single person I loved waiting for me after I had buried my husband alone in Switzerland.
I Found My Granddaughter Hurt and a Fake Signature Revealed a Family Scheme
I walked into my daughter’s living room and knew something was wrong before I understood what I was seeing.