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Heinrich Backs Platner as New Polls Show Him Outperforming Mills Against Collins

The break from party leadership highlights a fight over electability in a toss-up contest that could help decide Senate control.

Overview

  • A Quantus Insights survey of 800 likely voters conducted March 3–5 shows Graham Platner leading Janet Mills in the Democratic primary 43.3% to 38.0%, with 18.7% undecided and a ±3.4 point margin of error.
  • In general-election matchups from the same poll, Platner leads Sen. Susan Collins 48.6% to 41.8%, while Mills trails Collins 44.6% to 43.0%.
  • Sen. Martin Heinrich endorsed Platner on Tuesday, joining Sens. Ruben Gallego and Bernie Sanders, even as Chuck Schumer and the DSCC back Mills.
  • Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rate the Maine Senate race a toss-up, and Democrats view the seat as a must-win in a state carried by Kamala Harris in 2024.
  • Platner, a veteran and oyster farmer, has apologized for past offensive posts and covered a controversial chest tattoo, yet recent polls continue to show him gaining traction ahead of the June 9 primary.