Collins takes the lead against Platner in Maine: Poll

Potentially helping Platner is the voter enthusiasm gap.

By Ben Whedon

Published: July 1, 2026 11:58am

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, appears to have taken the lead in the Maine Senate contest against Democratic candidate Graham Platner, a recent survey has shown.

The incumbent Collins took 50% support among registered voters in the latest Fox News survey. Platner trailed with 47%. The three-point margin of error means the race is still a statistical tie.

The survey may be an outlier, however. The RealClearPolitics average, which includes the Fox News poll, currently gives Platner a 0.7% lead. The other three surveys in the average show Platner ahead by 1-3%.

Potentially helping Platner is the voter enthusiasm gap. Overall, 76% percent of Democrats said they were "extremely motivated" to vote, while 61% of Republicans said the same.

Conducted June 23-27, the survey questioned 1,003 registered voters in Maine and has a margin of error of +/- 3%.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.