Democratic Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner's campaign quietly commissioned a poll testing potential replacements as pressure intensifies for him to abandon his bid, according to a survey obtained by POLITICO. The flash poll, conducted Tuesday by Public Policy Polling, tested head-to-head matchups between Republican Sen. Susan Collins and five possible Democratic successors, including former Maine state Senate President Troy Jackson and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.
The polling move comes one day after POLITICO reported that a woman who Platner dated alleged he forced her to have sex with him. Platner has denied the allegation and said he is "taking the time to reflect" on his candidacy. His campaign subsequently canceled all planned fundraisers, removed online advertisements, and put holds on Facebook and Instagram ads. More than three dozen Democratic senators have publicly called on him to drop out of the race.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic leaders are focused on preserving a competitive seat against Collins, who has held Maine's Senate seat since 1997. The party faces a narrow path to maintaining its majority and cannot afford to lose a winnable race in November.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said through a spokesperson that Democrats "need a nominee who can win in November and take the fight to Susan Collins." Multiple Democratic strategists speaking on background noted that the party's internal polling showed Jackson as the strongest potential replacement, with favorable favorability numbers among key voter blocs.
Maine Democratic Party officials have committed to an "open, transparent and inclusive" process to select a nominee if Platner suspends his campaign. State law allows until 5 p.m. Monday for withdrawal, after which the party would need to name a replacement by July 27. A party spokesperson said there is "no legal possibility for a nominee to be selected by an individual campaign."
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans see the turmoil as evidence of Democratic Party dysfunction in Maine. The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a statement calling the situation "a complete collapse" and arguing that voters will remember the chaos heading into November.
Collins's campaign has remained largely quiet, avoiding direct commentary on Platner's difficulties while continuing standard operations. A spokesperson said only that the senator remains focused on her work for Maine families. Conservative commentators have argued that any replacement nominee would face Collins at a disadvantage after missing months of the primary season and existing name recognition gaps.
"This is what happens when you nominate someone without proper vetting," one Republican operative told POLITICO, speaking anonymously to discuss strategy freely. "The Democrats are now scrambling to find anyone who can run against Susan Collins with less than four months until Election Day."
What the Numbers Show
The Tuesday flash poll of 785 Maine voters tested multiple head-to-head scenarios:
Platner vs. Collins: Platner trailed 47 percent to 42 percent, with 11 percent undecided.
Jackson vs. Collins: Jackson led 49 percent to 44 percent, with 7 percent undecided — the best performance among tested Democrats.
Bellows vs. Collins: Essentially tied at 47 percent and 45 percent respectively.
Shah vs. Collins: Tied at approximately 47 percent and 46 percent.
Mills vs. Collins: Mills trailed 48 percent to 37 percent, with 15 percent undecided.
Wood vs. Collins: Wood trailed 47 percent to 38 percent, with 15 percent undecided.
The poll included crosstabs examining strength among voters who did not vote in 2024 or voted for someone other than Trump or Harris. Among this group: Platner received 40 percent support, Jackson 38 percent, Bellows 33 percent, Shah 26 percent, Wood 22 percent, and Mills 21 percent. The survey was conducted over a 24-hour period and did not list a margin of error in the document obtained by POLITICO.
The Bottom Line
The polling data presents Maine Democrats with a difficult calculus: Jackson consistently outperforms Platner against Collins, yet any replacement nominee would enter the race with significantly less time to build infrastructure and name recognition. Under state law, if Platner withdraws by Monday's deadline, the party has until July 27 to nominate a successor — a compressed timeline that limits fundraising opportunities and early voter contact before absentee ballots go out.
What to watch: Whether Platner appears publicly Wednesday as expected and what he says about his candidacy's future. Also monitor whether additional Democratic senators join the calls for him to exit, and how Maine Democratic Party officials navigate their stated commitment to an inclusive process while facing pressure from both the Platner campaign and national party organizations.