Susan Collins Chances of Losing Get Worse in Maine After Janet Mills Exit
Republican Senator Susan Collins' chances of beating Graham Platner in the 2026 MaineSenate race took a hit on Wednesday as a new poll showed the progressive Democrat has extended his lead in the critical election.
The Maine race presents Democrats with perhaps their best opportunity to flip a Senate seat in the 2026 midterm elections in a state that backed former Vice President Kamala Harris by about 7 points in 2024.
Collins, despite the state's Democratic lean, has managed to hold on in tough environments in the past, but Democrats believe President Donald Trump's approval rating could sink her chances in this year's election.
The new poll from Pan Atlantic Research is especially notable because it is the first since Governor Janet Mills, a Democrat, ended her campaign, setting up Platner as the likely Democratic candidate in the race.
Newsweek reached out to the Collins and Platner campaigns for comment via email.
Platner Extends Lead Over Collins in New Poll
Platner led Collins by 7 points in the new poll, winning support from 48 percent of respondents compared to the Republican senator's 41 percent support. Eleven percent were still undecided about who they would support in November.
It surveyed 827 likely voters from May 8-18, 2026, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
The previous Pan Atlantic Research poll, conducted from February 13-March 2, 2026, showed Platner up by only four points with 44 percent compared to Collins' 40 percent-so the new poll marks a shift in his direction.
What Do Other Polls Show?
Platner has been leading other polls of the Maine Senate race so far.
A recent Emerson College poll gave Platner a lead over Collins. In that poll, 48 percent of respondents said they would back Platner, compared with 41 percent who said they would vote for Collins. It surveyed 1,075 likely voters from March 21-23 with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Collins' supporters, however, note that she outperformed her polling in the 2020 Senate race. At the time, her Democratic rival Sara Gideon led in the polls, but Collins ended up winning with nearly 51 percent of the vote.
But Democrats believe a more favorable national environment could sink Collins. Trump is facing growing disapproval across the country amid concerns about gas prices and the cost of living, and he will loom over Republicans like Collins running in tight races.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 2:18 PM.