Maine Senate Race Narrows as Voter Enthusiasm Offsets Collins' Three-Point Lead, Fox News Poll Shows
Republican Sen. Susan Collins holds a three-percentage-point edge over Democratic challenger Graham Platner in Maine's Senate contest, 50% to 47% among registered voters, a Fox News Poll conducted June 23-27, 2026, shows. The margin inverts among the most engaged: of the two-thirds of voters who call themselves extremely motivated, Platner leads 53% to 44%. A 15-point Democratic enthusiasm gap is keeping the race within reach despite Collins' overall advantage.
Key takeaways
- A Fox News Poll conducted June 23-27, 2026 shows Republican Sen. Susan Collins leading Democratic challenger Graham Platner 50% to 47% among Maine registered voters.
- Among the two-thirds of voters who are extremely motivated, Platner leads 53% to 44%, reflecting a 15-point Democratic enthusiasm gap that keeps the race competitive.
- More than half of voters say Platner lacks the judgment to serve, while a similar share says Collins has been in Washington too long.
- Inflation is the top Senate issue at 30%, followed by political divisions (19%), healthcare (17%), and immigration (14%).
- In Maine's open governor's race, Democrat Hannah Pingree leads Republican Bobby Charles 53% to 42%.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins holds a three-percentage-point edge over Democratic challenger Graham Platner in Maine's Senate contest, 50% to 47% among registered voters, a Fox News Poll conducted June 23-27, 2026, shows. The margin inverts among the most engaged: of the two-thirds of voters who call themselves extremely motivated, Platner leads 53% to 44%. A 15-point Democratic enthusiasm gap is keeping the race within reach despite Collins' overall advantage.
Candidate Concerns Cut Both Ways
More than half of Maine voters say Platner lacks the judgment to serve in the Senate, while a similar share believes Collins has been in Washington too long. The concern about Platner runs somewhat deeper: nearly four in 10 voters are extremely worried about his judgment, compared with three in 10 who say the same about Collins' lengthy tenure. Among independents, roughly one-third are extremely concerned about each candidate — 33% over Platner's judgment and 30% over Collins' tenure.
Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll alongside Democrat Chris Anderson, described Maine as one of Democrats' most obvious Senate pickup targets, citing the state's presidential lean and Collins' 30-year incumbency. Shaw pointed to Platner facing allegations of sexual abuse, racism, and dishonesty, and said the race would test whether partisan loyalties override candidate-specific concerns.
Coalition Arithmetic and the Harris Baseline
Collins draws her lead from men (plus 10 points), voters without a college degree (plus 15), gun-owner households (plus 21), and rural voters (plus 8). Platner leads among women (plus 5), college-educated voters (plus 15), and suburban and moderate voters (plus 10 each) — but runs behind former Vice President Kamala Harris's 2024 margins in each of those groups. Harris won Maine statewide by nearly 7 points in 2024.
On party cohesion, Collins captures 93% of Republicans, including 97% of self-identified MAGA Republicans. Platner takes 86% of Democrats. Independents tilt narrowly toward Platner, 47% to 45%. Collins leads among military voters by 18 points.
Economic Anxiety and Issue Priorities
Only one in 10 Maine voters say they are getting ahead financially; more than four in 10 say they are falling behind. Inflation is the top Senate issue at 30%, followed by political divisions at 19%, healthcare at 17%, and immigration at 14%.
Collins' personal ratings are slightly underwater at 47% favorable and 50% unfavorable. Platner's are weaker at 43% favorable and 53% unfavorable. President Trump's rating in Maine stands at 40% favorable and 59% unfavorable.
Governor's Race Runs Parallel
In Maine's open gubernatorial contest, Democrat Hannah Pingree leads Republican Bobby Charles by 11 points, 53% to 42%. Seventeen percent of Collins supporters cross party lines to back Pingree for governor, while 5% of Platner supporters favor Charles.
The poll surveyed 1,003 Maine registered voters via landlines, cellphones, and text-prompted online responses, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research conducted the survey jointly.